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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 10:26:09 GMT -5
A smallish, but pleasant room in the Palace at Sunspear alotted to Visenya's daughter Valaena Maekarion Targaryen. There is but one window, opening onto a balcony overlooking the city. The room is decorated in the typical airy Dornish style, no heavy rugs and tapestries here.
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 10:29:53 GMT -5
August, 98 AL
Visenya knocked softly on the door of her daughter's chamber. She had spent the day reading the reports and missives from the border, which had suffered in the past years, thinking also of poor dead Jeyne Yronwood, who Valaena had never gotten to meet. Dwelling on the past made her long for the comfort of her daughter's presence, and she found herself wondering if this was how it had been for Jeyne those years in King's Landing.
"Valaena? Might I come in?"
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 10:33:49 GMT -5
"Come in, mother," Valaena called out. When the door opened Visenya saw her daughter sitting by the open window, stitching a pattern of embroidery into the bodice of one of her gowns. "Do you like it?" she asked, looking up at Visenya with smile, though her expression fell somewhat when she saw her mother's face.
"What is wrong, mother?" she asked with concern.
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 10:54:41 GMT -5
She went to her daughter's side and peered at the stitches. They were remarkably even. "Oh, very much. It's lovely," she said, stroking the smooth satin stitches before sitting down beside her on the bench. "And nothing's wrong, darling, I was just thinking about...about when I was your age, and wishing you could have met my mother properly before she died." She sighed and petted her daughter's long blond hair. Valaena was the only one of Visenya's children to be fair of hair and complexion, strongly resembling her father. "I try not to dwell on the hard times, but sometimes I can't help it."
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 11:01:47 GMT -5
"Lord Baratheon was a wicked man, but you and Silverwing got the chance to avenge grandmother," she replied quietly. "Who could ask for a better daughter?" she asked rhetorically, though by the sadness in her voice, VIsenya realized that Valaena was judging against her own failure to avenge her father's murder.
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 12:15:24 GMT -5
"Lord Baratheon was a wicked man, but you and Silverwing got the chance to avenge grandmother," she replied quietly. "Who could ask for a better daughter?" she asked rhetorically, though by the sadness in her voice, VIsenya realized that Valaena was judging against her own failure to avenge her father's murder. Visenya carried on stroking her daughter's hair. She sighed as she realized the source of the girls upset. "Valaena, I would be disappointed if you did fly off and try to avenge your father. There is a great difference between assailing outriders on Silverwing and besieging Sun House on Nymeraxes. Besides, the wrongs committed by Borros Baratheon extended much further and deeper than just taking the marcher castles and killing my mother." She grimaced as she remembered the rape she had suffered on the eve of her escape with Quentyn. Perhaps one day she would tell Valaena of these things. Perhaps. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't dwell on things, much less bring you my troubles. Things are so much better now, for all of us. I know your father would be very proud of how charming and how lovely you are." |
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 12:40:39 GMT -5
Valaena had continued stitching, and at the exact moment her mother said "how charming and how lovely you are", the girl missed a stitch and stabbed herself in the finger with her needle, swearing in a most unladylike fashion. She looked up at her mother sheepishly for a moment, and then giggled.
"I am charming and lovely, am I not? But I am also the Blood of the Dragon, and I cannot feel content while the man who robbed the realm of its true King, who robbed me of my father, sits in wealth and comfort in King's Landing," she continued, her mood shifting from amused to angry in the blink of an eye.
"Sun House is just… there, on the other side of the mountains. We could fly there from Starfall and back in an hour. Let Lord Baelon know what it is like to see his family consumed by dragon fire," Valaena added bitterly.
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 13:58:28 GMT -5
Valaena had continued stitching, and at the exact moment her mother said "how charming and how lovely you are", the girl missed a stitch and stabbed herself in the finger with her needle, swearing in a most unladylike fashion. She looked up at her mother sheepishly for a moment, and then giggled. "I am charming and lovely, am I not? But I am also the Blood of the Dragon, and I cannot feel content while the man who robbed the realm of its true King, who robbed me of my father, sits in wealth and comfort in King's Landing," she continued, her mood shifting from amused to angry in the blink of an eye. "Sun House is just… there, on the other side of the mountains. We could fly there from Starfall and back in an hour. Let Lord Baelon know what it is like to see his family consumed by dragon fire," Valaena added bitterly. Visenya covered her mouth to conceal her smile. Though it quickly faded when her daughter mentioned raiding Sun House. There was no lack of fire and blood in Valaena's soul. She was certainly Maekar's daughter. "We could, but we will not," she said firmly. "We have not had trouble from Reachmen these past ten years. Yes, Baelon murdered your father the king, but we cannot move against him now. Such an act would boil the blood of all of Westeros against Dorne. Perhaps one day we might, but not now." Her mouth tightened. "Certainly not while Princess Sarella holds Subspear." |
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 14:06:06 GMT -5
"Sarella does not fear the armies of Westeros, has beaten them back before. My father invaded Dorne himself, and failed; even Aegon the Conqueror could now bow, bend, or break the Rhoynar," Valaena replied. "What hope could his whore descendant have?"
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 14:39:22 GMT -5
"Sarella may not fear the armies of Westeros, but neither would she appreciate aggression on our part. We would have been run out and our dragons put to the sword long ago save for my efforts to continue Dornish sovereignty. She has no love for either of us, or any Targaryen." Visenya covered her daughtwr's hand with her own. "Now is not the right time, my dear. We must wait a little longer to avenge your father."
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 17:04:56 GMT -5
Valaena frowned. She bit her lip, holding back the retort that such was the response of a coward. "As you say, mother," she replied demurely, though Visenya could see the fire in her eyes, and knew that this argument would occur again, and soon.
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 18:10:28 GMT -5
Valaena frowned. She bit her lip, holding back the retort that such was the response of a coward. "As you say, mother," she replied demurely, though Visenya could see the fire in her eyes, and knew that this argument would occur again, and soon. Visenya smiled. She would not have to worry about Valaena ever forgetting the words "fire and blood". The girl was no sniveling lamb, despite her gentle features. "You know I appreciate your ambition and the fierceness of your desire for revenge. You are your father's daughter. But patience is important too. You can have all the plans in the world but they will do nothing for you unless you also keep a level head. That is the chief reason why I an the last living child of Prince Aenar." Valaena had heard all this before, of course, but Visenya would not hesitate to drive it home again. |
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 18:36:25 GMT -5
Valaena sighed, and put on an expression that Visneya recognized as the one she tended to where when she knew her mother was right, but didn't want to admit it. "I just want to honor my father's memory. I read Maester Mathwyk's account of The Kinslayer War, and he is called not even by name, just 'the Fortnight King' or 'Maegor's Bastard'! It is as though they wish to erase him from history," she said.
"I am not worthy of his name if I allow that to happen, mother," she added in a much quieter tone. "Can you not understand that?"
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 19:06:14 GMT -5
Valaena sighed, and put on an expression that Visneya recognized as the one she tended to where when she knew her mother was right, but didn't want to admit it. "I just want to honor my father's memory. I read Maester Mathwyk's account of The Kinslayer War, and he is called not even by name, just 'the Fortnight King' or 'Maegor's Bastard'! It is as though they wish to erase him from history," she said. "I am not worthy of his name if I allow that to happen, mother," she added in a much quieter tone. "Can you not understand that?" Visenya leaned forward and impulsively embraced her daughter. "Oh, I understand." She understood even better than her daughter, for even when Maekars name was mentioned, there was nothing written concerning Visenya herself. "You honor his memory by living. I have plans for you, my dearest. Never think that I do not." |
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 19:35:47 GMT -5
Valaena nodded, taking her mother's hands and holding them tightly for several long moments. "Would you like to go flying, mother? I have not seen Nymeraxes all week, and I suspect we could both use the wind in our hair. I saw you in the courtyard, speaking with Lord Dryland, and Morys," she said, frowning at the names of both the Lord of Vaith, and her brother, the Lord of Whitesand. "You could probably use a drink," she added, giggling and giving her mother a sidelong glance.
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 20:21:46 GMT -5
Visenya smiled. "Sometimes I almost wish Morys was the whoring sort. He is a very serious boy, and Lord Dryland is a very serious man. I ought to take care that the two do not spend too much time speaking when I am not present," she said, engaging her firstborn in a conversation more suited to a friend than a daughter.
"But yes, let's fly a bit. I'm sure Prince Trystane won't be looking for me for a few hours yet." She let out a small chuckle.
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 20:27:12 GMT -5
"Mother!" Valaena said, putting on an air of affronted shock, before breaking out in giggles herself. "I doubt Morys would know what to do with a whore, if she were lying naked before him," she said, giggling again.
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 20:34:19 GMT -5
"Mother!" Valaena said, putting on an air of affronted shock, before breaking out in giggles herself. "I doubt Morys would know what to do with a whore, if she were lying naked before him," she said, giggling again. "Perhaps he should have one, then. A girl might be just what he needs." Visenya appeared to consider the thought seriously for a moment as she got to her feet and held out her hand for her daughter to take. "How about you, my sweet? Has anyone caught your eye? You must remember to be very careful and very discreet. You shall not be a Dornishman's wife." |
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 20:44:28 GMT -5
"I spoke to the Sword of the Morning at the tournament at Sandstone two moons past, and he would have asked for my favor to wear had his wife not been present," she said, beaming. "He's quite comely, his he not mother? It is a shame he is married to Lady Tyene; she is far too drab for a man of his stature."
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 19, 2014 21:42:08 GMT -5
It seemed Valaena had her mother's taste for powerful older men. She smirked. "Very comely. But as I said, you are not destined to be some Dornishman's wife. Perhaps another woman's husband is what you need, so long as she never comes to know what has gone on between you and her husband."
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 19, 2014 22:40:15 GMT -5
"As you say mother," she replied amiably. "Shall we go flying now?"
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 20, 2014 8:29:21 GMT -5
"Yes, of course." Visenya was already standing, in fact more ready to go than Valaena seemed to be. "How could you neglect your dragon for a week, darling? Surely you haven't been so very busy?"
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Post by The Black Dread on Jun 20, 2014 8:57:00 GMT -5
"She is not a dog, mama, needing attention every day," Valaena replied with a laugh. "The handlers see to her needs, that is what you pay them for!"
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Post by Lady Visenya Targaryen on Jun 20, 2014 22:57:03 GMT -5
Visenya almost began a sentence with "when I was your age" but quickly bit her tongue. Instead, she just laughed and put an arm around Valaena as they continued down to where the dragons were kept.
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Post by Morys Martell on Jun 25, 2014 1:00:32 GMT -5
Morys walked with a steady pace towards Valaena's chambers, arms crossed behind his back as he strode down the hall. He was pleasantly smiling as he came to her room, not having seen her in a while as he came to a stop in front of her door.
He gave a breif knock, one hand still behind himself as he balanced on the balls of his feet waiting, "Valaena. Are you there?" he asked, listening for a reply, "It's me, Morys."
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all alone and also really bored 
Hopefully going to kickstart the festival too