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(EM Vol. 2: A Wandering Melody) Chapter 6: Gifts and Memories
🕑 Added 2025-05-25 14:00:08 +0000 UTCChapter 6: Gifts and Memories
123 AC, Dragonstone
Rhaena Targaryen knew that her father loved her sister more than her. It had been something that she had accepted long before her mother’s death. He had personally taught Baela how to speak High Valyrian, had even secretly taught her how to use a dagger when their mother wasn’t looking. Of course, her mother had taught her High Valyrian and told her stories of Driftmark and her childhood, but she could tell that she was frustrated with her father’s behaviour. She often claimed that the man simply didn’t know how to interact with them, and since Baela was similar to him, it made it easier to be close with her.
She could see it. After all, Baela was the one whose egg hatched. Baela was the one who liked to play with toy swords and run around everywhere. She knew that her father loved her, and Rhaena had accepted that distance between them, even if she craved his attention. She had decided that if Baela was their father’s favourite, then Rhaena would be their mother’s.
Which was why her death had shattered Rhaena completely. Her father tried. She knew that. He tried to help them in their grief, but didn’t know what to say. Then, he got married to Rhaenyra barely after her death, and everything changed.
Rhaena didn’t like Dragonstone. It was always dark. Baela got along with Jace easily enough, but Rhaena had never felt more alone. She felt like a stranger in her new home. The only upside would be the possibility of taming a dragon after her egg failed to hatch, yet her father refused to endanger her since Wild Dragons were often very violent.
She missed Pentos, even if she was barely old enough to remember it. Maybe she just missed her mother, after all this time. It didn’t matter either way. Her father would not let her go anywhere, and she didn’t have a dragon to force the issue.
For all of her father’s love for her, there was no question that he thought that she was lesser. Her cousins tried to get to know her, but there was always this distance. She was the only Targaryen without a dragon, and there was nothing they could do or say that made it otherwise.
And so, Rhaena was relegated to the background, spending most of the time in lessons, taking her dragon egg to the fire, hoping that it would, one day, hatch. No, she had lost hope a long time ago. She was doing it because it had become a habit at that point.
Life had become monotonous, except for a few exciting days. This was one of these days.
It wasn’t common for Dragonstone to have visitors, and their new guests, Harry and Daphne Potter, were definitely not boring. She had heard the story from one of the servants who had been there when his father and his wife argued about what to do. Apparently, the man and his wife built an entire manse in secret near the beach.
She had laughed herself silly, especially since the man had somehow convinced their father not to burn them to cinders with Caraxes, and instead, to make some dinner. It had probably something to do with how quickly they built the manse and the magic silver that they held. She didn’t quite believe the last part, but then again, it was better than being boring.
Lord Harry was funny and kind. He had obviously travelled all around the world, and his tales were ones that Rhaena had never heard before. He was kind and, most of all, he didn’t seem to care that she didn’t have a dragon. Or maybe he just didn’t know that she was dragonless.
Their meal was nice; the conversation was great. Lord Potter seemed to think that some children’s tale was real, for some reason, but he didn’t seem to try to convince them, so that didn’t really bother them. But it did seem to bother Rhaenyra, as she asked everyone to leave, but the man and his wife.
They all waited outside for a few minutes, away from their fuming father, who definitely did not like being dismissed in favour of a few guests. Rhaena wanted to ask him if he knew something about the reason for his wife’s reaction, yet she had learned years ago not to bother him when he was angry. The rest seemed to agree with it.
It was Jacaerys who broke the silence, “What do you think they’re talking about?”
“I don’t know,” Lucerys answered, “But mother was angry. I don’t think I’ve seen her this angry before.”
Rhaena spoke up this time, “Maybe they’re talking about the Hightowers. We’re always asked to leave when that happens.”
Baela shook her head, “Our father wouldn’t have been asked to leave it that was the case.”
Finally, the door opened, and Harry Potter left the room, but without his wife. His owl, Hedwig, flew past him, made a lap around the room before settling on his shoulder. He turned towards them and smiled, “Oh, hello there. I’m sorry for making you wait. I’m hoping you all ate your fill.”
Rhaena suppressed the urge to ask to pet the owl again. Her feathers were just so soft, and there was intelligence in her eyes, yet she stopped herself. Her father had seen the man and looked like he wanted to speak with him, but stopped himself for some reason.
Ah, maybe he was waiting until they were alone.
Nevertheless, the man was immediately hounded by the boys. Jace was the first to ask, “What did Mother wish to speak with you?”
“Oh, many things, but mostly a few things I’ve seen during my adventures. It seems that she recognised something I mentioned by accident and wanted an explanation.”
“And what was it about?” Rhaena’s father asked abruptly.
“Oh, I can’t possibly break the princess’ confidence, can I? No, if you want to know, then you’ll have to convince her to tell you.”
Her father looked like he wanted to argue, but stopped himself once more. It was odd, to see her father so restrained. He always let his feelings known, even his brother, the king, and especially the Hand, Otto Hightower.
So, why did he seem to respect this strange traveller?
There had to be something. Was the man powerful or wealthy? If so, why would they build a manse in her stepmother’s domain? It didn’t make sense.
She didn’t have time to think of things, as the man clapped his hands with a wide smile on his face, “Oh, I almost forgot, the real reason I came here…”
They all leaned forward, and Rhaena noticed her father motioning to draw his sword. Yet they all stopped when the man’s grin grew mischievous, “Gifts!”
Rhaena felt a smile grow on her face as well. It was odd how comfortable she felt around that man. He was just so kind. She could see it in his eyes, a warmth that wasn’t there when he was talking to her father and stepmother. Speaking of her father, he looked relaxed.
As expected, a grinning Jace raced first towards the man. She could almost hear her Septa shake her head at how improper this was, and that made things even better. The man grinned, and kept trying to pad his odd cloak, as if trying to find the gifts, before smiling widely, “Oh, here it is,” he knelt down and gave him an odd tube that looked like a small far-eye.
It didn’t look especially luxurious, not like the ones from Myr. In fact, if it wasn’t for the glass lenses, she wouldn’t have recognised it at all. Yet, with a flick of his wrist, the far-eye expanded, becoming almost as large as the one she had seen in her grandfather’s solar.
She hadn’t seen a collapsible far-eye before. She hadn’t even known that they existed, and obviously neither did Jace, who was staring at the gift with stars in his eyes, “Thank you.”
Lord Harry then turned towards Luke and gave him a small black box. Rhaena leaned in and saw some sort of circle moving around, with a red arrow on it. Luke gave the man an odd look, and all he received was a soft smile, “The red arrow on the box will always point North. I heard that you’re to be the next Lord of the Driftmark. Perhaps this will help you should you find yourself at sea.”
He then knelt down to Joffrey, and gave him a wide smile, “As for you, perhaps a smaller dragon would suffice.”
The man handed him a wooden toy dragon that looked very well-painted. Joff giggled and waved it around, only to notice that the wings moved with the wind. Rhaena was awed by the toy, and a bit envious as well. She didn’t know how that was possible, and Lord Harry didn’t seem inclined to explain it.
Baela received a small thin dagger, very expertly forged, with beautiful carvings of dragons near the pommel. Her sister seemed overjoyed with the gift, even if her father looked shaken slightly for some reason. She didn’t understand why her father disliked Lord Harry so much. He seemed like a nice man with kind eyes.
Eyes that had turned to her, making Rhaena realise that it was finally her turn. She was excited about what she would get. She tried to repress her reactions as the man took out a small box and gave it to her. She opened it, and a small bracelet made of gold, with a beautiful red gem inside it.
She had probably imagined it, but the gem moved slightly, and it felt a little warm. It was a beautiful piece of jewellery, but Rhaena couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Everyone had received something that they had never seen before, or at least, something that they couldn’t easily find. Rhaena could easily get better bracelets by asking her stepmother, and that would be it.
Her reaction must have shown, as Lord Harry knelt in front of her, and put the bracelet around her arm, “I found this gem in a king’s tomb. It is thousands of years old, and yet, it looks almost untouched, a legacy of a forgotten civilization, and now, you’ll wear it on your wrist. Perhaps it will aid you to achieve your dreams.”
She was about to thank the man, only for the door to open once more with Lady Daphne leaving the Great Hall. She gave her husband an exasperating look, “Please tell me you didn’t give them priceless artefacts again, Harry. Did you give them any weaponry?”
“It was just one dagger,” he replied sheepishly.
The woman huffed and turned towards them, before freezing for a fraction of a second at the sight of Rhaena’s bracelet and turning towards her husband with an eyebrow raised.
They seemed to have some sort of silent conversation before she rolled her eyes, “Well, I suppose this was a rather nice meal, but it’s time for us to go back home. We still have a lot to do to prepare for our next expedition. I suppose this is farewell.”
Her husband seemed to agree, “I suppose it is. I hope that I’ll see you again, children. It was very nice to meet you all. Feel free to visit. I know that Hedwig will miss you, too.”
And just like that, they walked out of the castle, leaving them all to stare at their new gifts. Her father, on the other hand, immediately rushed into the Great Hall, hoping to speak with his wife.
Jace had given Luke his new far-eye, while he was playing with the North pointer box, spinning around, marvelling as the box continued to point North. Joff was running around with his new toy.
Baela was playing with her dagger, smiling, and yet, Rhaena did nothing but stare at her bracelet. Everyone seemed happier with their gift than she was with hers. All she had was a stupid old piece of jewellery that didn’t even look pretty.
Yet, her eyes couldn’t leave the gemstone. It felt like it was moving, like it was breathing in time with her pulse. The warmth surged, just for a second, and something rushed through her, sharp and sudden, like a tide crashing against her skin.
She gasped and staggered back, the world spinning. No one else seemed to notice. Jace and Luke were still laughing, Baela still twirling her dagger. Her mouth went dry. The warmth hadn’t returned; it was gone now, quiet again, and there was no sign of anything wrong. The gemstone looked normal again.
Without thinking, Rhaena turned on her heel and burst into the Great Hall, her breath shallow, eyes wide. She entered just in time to see her father and stepmother arguing, “I do not have time for this, Daemon. I need to leave for King’s Landing. I’ll take Syrax, and I’ll be back soon.”
“I’m not asking for much, Rhaenyra. Just an explanation. First, you send me and the children away, you choose to be alone with a man that I warned you was dangerous, and now you’re suddenly leaving for the Capital, into Otto Hightower’s centre of influence, our enemy, I might add, without even an explanation.”
“I do not have to explain my actions to you, husband.”
Her father growled at her, “Yes, you do. I am your husband, and your actions could endanger your cause and even my children. You are acting rashly.”
“Going to speak with my father is not a rash act, Daemon.”
“So, you’re going to see Viserys, after he all but banished you to this island? And what could you possibly speak to him about that I can’t know of?”
“It is a matter between the King and his heir, a matter which does not concern you,” Rhaenyra growled back.
Her father reeled back, as if he was struck, and that was when Rhaena spoke up, “Father, my bracelet, it did something, I think it…”
Daemon turned, his face still twisted in fury from his argument. “Not now, Rhaena.”
“But…” she tried again, clutching the bracelet as if that would make her words stronger, clearer.
“It burned. Just for a second. I think it…”
“I said not now!” he snapped, voice echoing through the hall like a whipcrack.
Rhaena flinched as if struck. Her eyes burned, breath catching in her throat. She stared at him, at the man she had tried so hard to please, to understand, to be seen by, and all she saw was the fury that had nothing to do with her. Or maybe it did. Maybe it always did.
She turned and fled the Great Hall, tears hot and fast against her cheeks. He was just angry, she told herself. He didn’t mean to shout. He was angry at Rhaenyra. Angry at everything. Not at her. But deep down, she knew the truth. He never shouted at Baela. He had time for Baela. He looked at Baela with pride in his eyes.
But for her?
She wasn’t a Dragonrider.
Her egg never hatched. She was the only one left without a dragon, without a bond. And maybe, just maybe, that was why he kept her at a distance. Because no matter how much she studied, how hard she tried to behave, she didn’t belong. Not without wings.
Fine, then. If she had no dragon… she would find one. A wild one. If no egg would choose her, then she would choose her own fate.
Tonight, she would go to the Dragonmont. Tonight, she would find a dragon and claim it. Tonight, she would prove herself a true Targaryen. Tonight, she would make her father love her.
AN: I know that this chapter isn’t exactly exciting. I was tempted to scrap the whole thing, but it’s setting something up for the next chapter. I don’t know if my characterisation of Rhaena is accurate, so please let me know what you think. Anyway, this chapter has Harry meddling very subtly. You’ll see exactly what he did in the next chapter. As usual, I don’t mind rewriting this depending on your feedback, so please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.
Comments
Marius Petrauskas
nice
athass_prkr
Not fully. I'm planning on explaining it completely in the next chapter.
DoodleBopCheese
Was the bracelet explained?
Garri Sarkisov
Children are very easily impressed and assume things for the worst
