Whispers Of the Dragon & the Fawn

Brinaera’s POV

I was currently in my bedchambers, getting dressed by my handmaiden Ursa, as today was a big day for me. Finally, I was going to travel to Storm’s End and come face to face with my father, Lord Borros Baratheon himself.

As Ursa was finished dressing me in a stormy dark blue colored dress with onyx jewelry, I let out a small hum as she started to brush my hair and braid it intricately.

“Do you believe he will even know who I am, Ursa… ?”

“He would be foolish not to, sweet girl. You have the storm blood running through you. Then again, it is said Lord Borros is not the most observant of lords.”

I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me, immediately covering my mouth with my hand, clearing my throat.

“I am… quite glad you and I are able to talk like this, spend time like this… I cherish you, Ursa.”

“Of course, dear. Since I am unable to bear children of my own, you have been the closest thing I have had to my own daughter. I would rather perish than to let a hair on your head be harmed.”

I couldn’t help the big smile making its way to my face as I heard Ursa’s words, knowing that she was being pure and genuine. Once Ursa was done tending to me, she spun me around so I could face her.

“Let me take a good look at you, dear…. Ahhh, a thing of beauty, a lovely young Lady as yourself. Now then, Saerys should be in the dragon pits, remember to ride safely.”

I place a hand on Ursa’s shoulder and smile before exiting my bedchambers, tying my cloak to secure it and walking down the hallways of the Red Keep, making my way to Aemond’s bedchambers, knocking on the door. After a moment of waiting, the door is opened to reveal Aemond… seeming a bit disheveled, yet looking his usual self in the same attire.

“You have your cloak on… where is it you plan on heading off to, opal… ?”

Of course, ever astute and inquisitive, Aemond… I let out an exhale, a small and quiet hum escaping me before looking back up at Aemond, my gaze meeting his before slowly pulling the hood of my cloak up to hide my face.

“I am going to ride Saerys to Storm’s End… to confront my father, face to face. I wish for you to join me atop Vhagar. Your choice, sapphire… ”

Aemond remained stoic, not saying a word and silence consuming the air around us for a moment, only letting out one of his neutral hums. Finally, after the moment of silence passed, he spoke once more in a neutral tone.

“I would not let you flee alone, opal. I shall come with you to Storm’s End atop Vhagar and ride alongside you.”

I smiled small and started to swiftly walk down the halls of the Keep, Aemond following behind me as we swiftly made our way out of the building and to the dragon pits atop the Hill of Rhaenys. As we entered, lit torches along the walls, Aemond and I came across both Vhagar and Saerys, a small big and wide coming across my face.

“Sīmonagon, Saerys. Māzigon.”

As I called for Saerys, I could hear her huff and see her opening her eyes, and the soft cooing sound escape her. I had found Saerys when she was an egg on my eleventh name day and I sang to her egg every night. Once she had hatched, we had already been bonded, sealing my claim over her, despite not being of Targaryen descent.

I chuckled as she nuzzled her snout against me, being a rather affectionate creature, and my hands found their way to her snout, gently rubbing back and forth.

“Sȳz riña, Saerys.”

I turned to look over at Aemond, only to see him begin to mount Vhagar, getting onto the rider’s saddle on her. I then followed suit and went around to the side of Saerys and went to climb atop of her, mounting her and settling myself on the rider’s saddle.

Soon enough, Aemond and I were descending from King’s Landing and in the air atop of Vhagar and Saerys, side by side and soaring through the skies like gods. It felt so liberating, so freeing… It had been far too long since I had felt this way, and the fact I was side by side with my dearest friend, made it all the better.

It had been hours, felt like an eternity in the skies above, but soon enough, we had entered the Stormlands and its blustery conditions. As we arrived at Storm's End, I looked over to Aemond and nodded before facing forward once again, commanding Saerys to land.

“Tegun, Saerys!”

As I instructed her to land on the cliffside, Aemond followed suit, having Vhagar land next to Saerys. As we dismounted, I looked at Aemond and let out an exhale through my nose.

“This must be done. If not now, then when?”

Aemond just stared at me and grabbed me gently yet firmly by my forearms, letting out a hum before speaking.

“Then see to it that Lord Borros knows you are truly who you say you are. It is certain he will have questions and doubts.”

“That is if the fool even remembers what he did to my mother all those years ago.”

Aemond moved a hand off of my forearm, reaching out for me and paused for a moment, but then ran his hand over my slightly dampened brunette locks.

“He would be foolish to forget, but even more so to not recognize the force you are. Certainly one to be reckoned with, opal.”

I just let out a hum reminiscent of his and shifted my gaze down to the wet ground of the cliffside, looking back up at him after a moment of silence.

“Let us find out how this will follow through… come, sapphire.”

As Aemond and I made our ways into the cliffside’s castle, we were halted by guards.

“Halt, state your name and business here.”

I had the hood of my cloak up and over my head, obstructing any visibility of my face, remaining silent as I stood there. Aemond looked down at me before looking up at the guards, speaking plainly.

“Prince Aemond Targaryen. I am here to discuss business with Lord Borros, not that it concerns any of you.”

The guards slightly backed off and let the both of us through, walking towards Lord Borros as he sat upon his throne.

“Speak, Prince Aemond. You say you have business to discuss with me?”

Aemond just let out a hum.

“That is correct, Lord Borros. May I ask a question of you?”

Lord Borros just stared at both Aemond and I, still not having a clue it was me underneath the hood of the cloak.

“Ask, my boy, but speak plainly.”

Aemond ever so slightly grinned before speaking.

“How many daughters is it you have, Lord Borros… ?”

Lord Borros seemed slightly confused by the nature of this question from Aemond, nonetheless answering it with a smile.

“I have four daughters, Prince Aemond: Cassandra, Maris, Ellyn and Floris.”

Aemond just let out another hum, his hands behind his back as he stood there, the faintest of smirks across his lips.
“You would have miscounted then, Lord Borros. You have another, between Cassandra and Maris… ”

Lord Borros’ brows furrowed and stared at the young Targaryen prince in confusion, wondering what he meant by that. As he went to open his mouth to speak, I was quick to cut him off, speaking as I pulled the hood of my cloak down, revealing my face as I stared up at the Storm Lord.

“Hello, father… Do you remember me? Or better yet, do you remember my mother… ? Lady Delora Caron… ? She was your Lady wife’s sister and while she was ill, you forced yourself upon my mother… She didn’t have her blood for many moons and said she was with child. So what did you do? You force her through it and whatever illness she had progressed… Once I was born, you exiled the both of us from the Stormlands. My mother traveled by foot all the way to King’s Landing and gave me up to Queen Alicent and King Viserys, asking her to raise me. Thank the gods above Alicent agreed, and I was raised alongside her children. But you… you miserable ingrate… how dare you leave a mother and her babe susceptible to the elements.”

It was clear in my tone of voice that I despised my father for what he had done, the treatment my mother and I had faced by his actions. The longer Lord Borros stared at me, the more he noticed that I had the features of both a Caron and a Baratheon… there was no denying that fact. He just continued to stare before finally speaking.

“You look just like your mother…. Along with her spirit. I regret satiating my desires in such a deplorable manner… Delora did not deserve such treatment, she was a kind natured woman. And you… you are the same, I see it. But you must realize I did what was necessary to defend my honor and the House Baratheon name.”

Aemond just watched silently from the side, standing next to me as all this was happening. I let out a bitter huff of laughter, shaking my head.

“My own father, a Lord… who does not even know my name. Or does he even wish to know it?”

“Then speak it, child.”

I just stared at the Storm Lord with nothing but contempt in my hazel eyes, my lips parted before finally speaking it.

“Brinaera… I am both a Caron and a Baratheon, whether you acknowledge that within me or not. But the simple fact can’t be denied that your blood courses through my veins, rushing through me like sea water, flooding my being with purpose.”

Lord Borros just stared at me, his eyes periodically narrowing at my words. As I went to speak more, another guest had arrived and as both Aemond and I saw who it was, I was surprised to see Lucerys… Rhaenyra must’ve sent him as an envoy.

“I am Prince Lucerys Velaryon. I bring a message to Lord Borros from the Queen.”

I was surprised, it was as if Lucerys didn’t notice me or Aemond or I whatsoever… I was also slightly confused as to why he referred to Rhaenyra as Queen of the Realms, since Aegon was just recently made King… As I pondered these things, a Baratheon knight spoke up.

“Prince Lucerys Velaryon, son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.”

“Lord Borros… I brought you a message from my mother… the Queen.”

My father just chuckled before speaking.

“Yet earlier this day, I received an envoy from the King.
Which is it? King or Queen? The House of the Dragon does not seem to know who rules it.”

Lord Borros paused for a moment before speaking once more.

“King Aegon at least came with an offer: my swords and banners for a marriage pact. If I do as your mother bids… which one of my daughters will you wed… boy?”

I went wide eyed as I heard the words “marriage pact”... I then looked over at Aemond and stared at him in shock, wondering if that implied what I thought it did. Aemond said nothing, remaining quiet as he saw all of this play out between my father and Lucerys.

“My lord… I am not free to marry. I’m already betrothed.”

Lord Borros let out another chuckle, slightly shaking his head.

“So you come with empty hands. Go home, pup. And tell your mother that the Lord of Storm’s End is not some dog that she can whistle up at need to set against her foes.”

“I shall take your answer to the Queen, my Lord.”

As Lucerys was turning around to leave, Aemond finally found the opportunity to speak up.

“Wait… my Lord Strong.”

As soon as Lucerys heard that voice, he froze before slowly turning around, seeing his own uncle standing there, me beside him.

“Did you really think that you could just fly about the realm trying to steal my brother’s throne at no cost?”

I then immediately spoke, placing a hand on Aemond’s arm in an attempt to stop him.

“Aemond, let us leave. I insist we do so.”

But all efforts seemed to be in vain, falling on deaf ears as Aemond ignored me.

“I will not fight you. I came as a messenger, not a warrior.”

Aemond let out an exhale before speaking once more.

“A fight would be little challenge. No… I want you to put out your eye… As payment for mine… ”

As Aemond removed his eyepatch to reveal the sapphire gem in the socket of his missing left eye, the scar a bearing reminder of what his own nephews did to him, I felt my breath hitch. Not because I found him to be hideous or deformed… quite the opposite… I found the sapphire in the socket to add character to him, to enhance the beauty he already had. He then grabbed the dagger out of its sheath, tossing it across the room to Lucerys.

“One will serve. I would not blind you. Mm, plan to make a gift of it to my mother.”

Lucerys seemed to grimace at the mere thought of the prospect of Aemond’s demand. He then looked Aemond in the eye before speaking.

“No.”

“Then you are craven as well as a traitor.”

“Aemond, please, I beg of you-”

“Not here.”

Aemond seemed to have lost his temper a bit, speed walking towards Lucerys with purpose, grabbing the dagger he had tossed off the ground.

“Give me your eye! Or I will take it from you, bastard!”

Baratheon knights immediately guarded Lucerys as Lord Borros raised his voice.

“Not in my hall! The boy came as an envoy. I’ll not have bloodshed beneath my roof. Take Prince Lucerys back to his dragon. Now.”

As Lucerys was escorted out of the hall, I immediately looked up at Aemond, my eyes wide with anger at the whole situation.

“Aemond, have you gone mad? That was neither the time nor place for a confrontation such as that! We are leaving… now.”

I immediately stormed out of the hall, going outside and going to mount Saerys and as I looked up, I saw Lucerys atop of Arrax, silently praying to the Gods above that he makes it home to Dragonstone safe. I grabbed the reins and as I went to command Saerys, I saw Aemond atop of Vhagar flying through the prevalent storm. He was going after Lucerys, I just knew it. I went wide eyed before yelling out my command.

“Sōvegon, Saerys. Sir!”

Saerys immediately obeyed my command and soon enough, we were up in the air, flying through the storm clouds in the sky, rain soaking me and wind chilling me to the bone. As I flew I around, I spotted Vhagar swooping down, right above Lucerys atop of Arrax, cackling and laughing like a madman.

“Gēlȳni enkāgon jemēla, taoba!”

This was going to get ugly and I knew that if this kept up, someone was either going to get hurt or killed. I commanded Saerys to fly down and she obeyed, immediately stopping Vhagar’s path.

“Aemond! What in the Seven Hells is wrong with you!? Are your desires for revenge so great, you are to satiate them at whatever the cost!?”

Aemond just stared at me and it seemed almost as if he were… glaring at me.

“You do not understand, Brinaera, this is something that must be done.”

“Aemond, either you follow me back to King’s Landing or you will never see me again, I swear to all the gods above. It is your choice… sapphire… ”

As I spoke those words, I commanded Saerys to fly and as she obeyed, I didn’t pay attention to either he followed suit or not.

Hours had passed and I had arrived back at King's Landing, still a bit wet from Storm’s End, and had already brought Saerys back to the dragon pit. As soon as I made my way back inside the Red Keep, I stormed through the halls, ignoring anyone and everyone who tried to speak to me, shutting myself inside my bedchambers.

I wished to be left alone for the rest of the evening, and if Aemond followed me, I didn’t wish to see or speak to him for at least a few days….