Queen of the Narrow Seas

A year after she first arrived in Stepstone, someone else came to the Moonstone (formerly Bloodstone, named after her dearly departed mother and Queen) Isle, this time laden with books and furious glares as he went up to Dragon Keep. Rhaenyra, who was visiting a fishing village with her ladies, came in with windblown hair and rosy cheeks, gaping at her guest(s).

“You girl!! Have you kept up with your studies?” Grandmaster Vaegon of formerly House Targaryen thundered loudly. 

“Umm,” the princess looked so bewildered at this non-sequitur. “Yes? I tried studying with my companions and Lady Elyse is currently teaching us about the History of Riverlands.”

Maester Vaegon's frown grew deeper. “How about diplomacy? Governance? Economic taxes and its impact on your little kingdom?”

“Taxes?” Rhaenyra vaguely remembered Martyn mentioning the need of setting up proper shipping taxes for ships using the Narrow Seas but she was a bit busy with trying to understand the safety laws on coal mining Lord Strong had sent her a week ago and how to implement them in their coal mines in Dustspear. “I haven’t really thought about it yet?” The girl winced as Vaegon turned purple but before he could bellow at her, a hand reached out and patted him on the shoulder. 

“That’s enough, Vaegon, you are scaring the poor child.” A Septa, covered in a waist length black veil scolding him. “Come child, let me see you.” The veil was pushed aside to reveal a beautiful old lady with soft lilac eyes smiling at her.

“You look just like her, my sweet tala, Daella.” Rhaella said softly, tracing her face with her wrinkly hands. Vaegon, who was standing beside her, looked away but didn’t say a thing. 

“Why are you here, grandaunt?” Rhaenyra asked as she led the elderly septa to a chair. 

“We are here to offer you our support and expertises. We would have come sooner but Vaegon here,” Rhaella waved her walking stick at him, “had too many books he needed copying so he can bring them here.” Rhaenyra nodded, finally understanding what was in the trail of wagons and the two maesters guarding the said wagons in her courtyard. 

“Oh.” Rhaenyra floundered for a bit. “That’s… You didn’t have to come here. We could have… muddled through?” She winced at the uncertainty in her voice.

“Nonsense, child, you are family and we are here to support you in any way we can.” Rhaella said kindly. “Just thank us and then point us where you need help.”

Rhaenyra smiled shyly before leaning in to hug her aunt. “Thank you Grandaunt Rhaella, Granduncle Vaegon.”

Vaegon harrumphed loudly but patted her shoulder awkwardly. 

Vaegon was such a harsh taskmaster that the girls have taken to hiding from him outside their studies as he (metaphorically) beats the knowledge into their heads, from mathematical equations to the dry and yet very intricate history of Riverland warfare to the discombobulated language of diplomacy. Only one he could tolerate were sweet Prunella who apparently had impressed the caustic maester with her studies and ambitious Yanli and her thirst in learning new languages. 

Septa Rhaella meanwhile made sure they all learnt about deportment and how to navigate their way in court (not that they would be in court anytime soon) as well as sharing stories about growing up in her father’s court and later at Maegor’s court. (Rhaenyra and her friends have the niggling suspicions that the rumor about Princess Aerea and Septa novice Rhaella swapping places are credible judging from the stories she shared.)

The only time Rhaenyra would get to be free from her responsibilities was when she went dragon riding. And since she is now the Lady Paramount of Stepstone Isles, Lady Elyse had told her that she must never be without attendant befitting her station (and the fact Rhaenyra would like make sudden pit stops checking on her people) this means the now eleven years old Princess would take a companion with her while flying, usually in form of her ladies. 

Elinda was the youngest lady she had ever taken on Syrax and like her mistress, had adored flying, hence being the most frequent one being picked to fly with her, while Martyn, who had cried and hugged the ground after his first and only flight, had vehemently promised the laughing princess that he would never fly with her ever again. In his entire life, he would break this promise only twice; first during the birth of his second child and the second to attend to Lord Lyman Beesbury’s deathbed to say his farewells.

“Grey Ghost?” Rhaenyra gaped as they all stared at the dragon sunning at the rocks. They had received news about a dragon sighting at Tor and fearing for the new fishing village in Scarwood, she and her people quickly went there on a boat. 

To everyone’s surprise, one of the three legendary unclaimed dragons, Grey Ghost can be seen loitering on the pile of rocks, and even made a space for Syrax to land and lay beside him.  

“Yes, your highness. He always appeared while we were fishing around this area and we gave him some of our catches as payment for his protection. I hope it's alright.” The fisherman said bashfully. “He didn’t seem to mind when our children swam to the shore and touched his scales. When we saw the Golden Lady,” the fisherman continued with a fond tone, “had joined the dragon, we immediately sent a message to Moonstone.”

Rhaenyra nodded before leaving the fisherman, joining Vaegon, who were dictating his finding to Maester Sebell, one of the two maesters that had followed him to Stepstones.

“Notice the gills? And the way it cuts the water as it goes for a dive? This suggests the dragon has aquatic tributes.” Vaegon lectured as they watched Grey Ghost launched into the sea before coming up again, this time a huge shark in its mouth, presenting it to Syrax, who preened before biting into her gift. “It seems the dragon is currently courting Princess Rhaenyra’s dragon. We must schedule a watch to document their courting rituals.” watching his assistant run off to schedule it he joined his grandniece who was watching Syrax eating. 

“Don’t you ever want to ride a dragon, Grand uncle Vaegon?” Rhaenyra suddenly asked, curious about her dragonless granduncle. Vaegon opened his mouth, maybe to reply something sarcastic when he looked at her face. She was a carbon copy of her late mother Aemma, who greatly resembled her late mother and his sister Daella. 

He sighed and decided to be truthful for once. “Your grandparents, my parents, had never offered me a chance to claim a dragon. I was too different and to them, too caustic to be a dragon rider. They thought it was enough that Aemon and Baelon had dragons, the rest of us were never given a chance because it could upset the succession. Your grandmother, Alyssa, was lucky when she claimed Meleys and was in love with your grandfather, for they wouldn’t have let her marry outside the family.”  He looked out to the sea, watching as Grey Ghost offered another shark to Syrax. “I always wondered what it's like to touch the sky.” He said softly. 

“Would you like to fly with me, Uncle?” Rhaenyra suddenly offered, whistling for Syrax. “I would be honored to show you the skies like Uncle Daemon did for me.”

Vaegon cried as they cruised in the air, Rhaenyra tactfully pretended she didn’t notice the wet tears on her head and the soft sobs behind her.

After the mines in Dustspear were properly set up (thanks to uncle Vaegon who beat in the heads of head miners the importance of safety) and the agricultural success in both Scarwood and Golden Haven, Rhaenyra turned her focus to other islands.

Under Ser Luthor Largent and the Dragon Cloaks, the Dragonwatch (formerly known as Highwatch) was turning into a military outpost where members of the Dragon Cloaks and their families made their home there. They are in charge of keeping the islands safe from reavers and pirates alike as well as keeping peace in the settlements. 

Felstrong meanwhile was turning into a temple of religions akin to Braavos’s Isles of Gods where a group of Valyrian priests and Septon Chayle (the septon who helped her with her charity works in King’s Landing) co-existed peacefully, tending to their folks religious needs. Morna Strong had even offered to help Rhaenyra to procure a weirwood sampling from God’s Eyes to accommodate the followers of the Old Gods. 

Thus Rhaenyra turned to Redwater. Redwater was becoming a good spot for both fishing and pearl farming and she realized that she needed someone capable to help take care of the island.

And what better way but to ask a Velaryon to do it?

“Rhaenyra!” Laena threw herself at her cousin, hugging her in delight. After King Viserys had jilted her for Alicent Hightower, Laena had spent her time in Driftmark, missing her younger cousin dearly. She stepped back and let Laenor hug her in turn, his steadfast companion, Joffrey Lonmouth grinning playfully behind them. “It had been so long since we last met!! I have so many things to tell you!! I claimed Vhagar!!”

“You did!! That's incredible, cousin!!” Rhaenyra gushed in delight. 

“Children.” Someone coughed and the twins reluctantly let Rhaenyra go, leaving her to face her aunt, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen-Velaryon who pulled the young girl into a hug of her own. 

She observed the young girl and her entourage as they disembarked from the Realm Delight and went up to Hightide. It was a great shock when news came to Driftmark two years ago that Princess Rhaenyra was being removed from her position as Crown Princess (not that Rhaenys would be too surprised as they had did the same to her) and had left King’s Landing for Stepstones as its Lady Paramount.

What news they managed to receive from Stepstones from their ships that used the Narrow seas are rather favorable for the Princess, with the work she had done on the once desolate islands. Of course the Lady Driftmark was interested why the princess was here now after so long. 

After the customary guest rites, Rhaenyra quickly introduced her entourage to her Velaryon cousins. “This is Prunella Celtigar, she is one of my companions and her brother is one of my scarlet shadows along with Lady Mylessa Darke.” She indicated to the sword-carrying lady in red behind her after introducing Prunella. “Lord Martyn Beesbury is my steward-slash-advisor.”

Rhaenys, sat on the driftwood throne as her duties as lady of the keep, nodded to them and then turned to her niece. “So tell me Princess Rhaenyra, why have you come to Driftmark?”

“I have some offers for House Velaryon, especially to Ser Vaemond Velaryon himself.” Rhaenyra answered. . 

“I see.” Rhaenys gestured to one of the servants to summon her brother in law before turning back to the young princess. “May I know what you are trying to offer?”

“For one, I wanted to ask if Laena would like to join me at Stepstones as my companion.” Rhaenyra said. “I know it isn’t as prestigious as being a member of the Queen's retinue but I can offer the same dowry offer that I offered to my ladies; a dowry of 500 golden dragons and land ownership in Stepstones.”

Rhaenys can hear her daughter gasping behind her. The offer of land ownership as part of her dowry, that was a generous offer indeed. 

“Unfortunately, we would have to decline Princess.” Rhaenyra reluctantly said. “Lord Corlys is currently away in Braavos negotiating Laena’s betrothal with the current Sealord’s heir and she is currently preparing for the wedding that to be held next year.” Laena grumbled behind her but quieted when Rhaenys glared at her. 

The door to the throne room opened and in entered Vaemond along with his children, the former glaring angrily at Rhaenys; still bitter over the fact Corlys had chosen his wife as regent over his own brother. “I am here. What do you want?” 

“Princess Rhaenyra had come from Stepstone with an offer for House Velaryon, in particular, with you.” Rhaenys said dryly. 

Rhaenyra looked at them, noticing the tension but spoke. “In acknowledgement of House Velaryon’s participation in liberating Stepstones from the pirates, I would offer the ownership of the Redwater and the permission to form a cadet house for House Velaryon in Stepstone, led by Ser Vaemond himself.” Lord Martyn Beesbury passed copies of the contract to both Vaemond and Rhaenys, their respective children reading over their shoulders. 

Rhaenys can feel her eyebrows climbing as she read the terms; a quarter of Redwater’s revenue are due to be paid to the Lady Paramount, the permission to form their own naval fleet with the caveat of joining Stepstone’s fleet in times of conflict, permanent preferential trade privileges and concessions for their merchant marine and Velaryon enterprises as well as safe harbor and passage for their warships whenever they passed through the area, why, Rhaenys thought in surprise, this is a very generous offer.

“Is this an insult?!” Vaemond suddenly spat. “A mere island?! I fought on that island, if anything I should be the Lord Paramount and not a mere slip of a girl who had been abandoned by her own father!”

“Vaemond!!” Rhaenys thundered. They can hear Meleys and Syrax roaring outside the castle. “Hold your tongue!” 

“I will not be a vassal, paying tithes to a brat playing lord.” Vaemond spat on the floor before storming off. 

Rhaenyra closed her eyes and tried to breathe calmly again. As much as she wanted to set Vaemond on fire for his insults or sic Mylessa on him, she could not, not with her reputation as the Lady Paramount of Stepstones are still shaky at best. 

Prunella reached out and squeezed her hand in support. 

Rhaenyra exhaled and smiled fakely to Rhaenys. “Well, it seems that offer was rejected. I would still like to discuss a trading treaty with House Velaryon.” She stepped back and let Martyn discuss with Rhaenys 

After a grueling round of discussion, Rhaenyra and her entourage excused themselves so Rhaenys can deliberate on their trading offers. The young princess took advantage of the break to get Laena show her around, listening to her cousin grousing about her future marriage and her ongoing plans in taming Vhagar as her future rider.

“Excuse me.” The two turned and see Vaemond’s oldest son, the 20 years old Daemion together with his only sister, Vaelaena and his youngest brother Daeron waiting with him. “I told my siblings about your offer to my father. And some of us are wondering, is the offer still valid?” Daemion smiled hopefully.  “If yes, then my siblings and I would like to accept your offer.”

Rhaenyra blinked and smiled, nodding. Laena quickly ran off to find Lord Martyn as Daemion and Rhaenyra began to discuss. 

A fortnight later, the House Velaryon of Pearl Cove (formerly known as Red Water) was founded, led by Vaemond’s eldest son Daemion, much to his father’s anger and Lord Corlys’s hilarity. Applauding the young man’s ingenuity, the Sea Snake had given him ten galley ships as a gift, further angering Vaemond. 

To everyone’s glee, Daemion was the missing piece Rhaenyra’s council were missing as he had wicked ideas about taxations, even pointing out the need of setting a proper shipping taxation and introducing the idea of setting up a proper docking tariffs in Stepstones ports, docks and even its waterways especially for Westerosian ships under Hightower and their allies controls. His two youngest siblings, Daeron and Vaelaena, joined his brother’s bold move to Stepstones, Daeron serving as Aemon’s squire while Vaelaena joining Rhaenyra’s household as her latest companion. 

Yes, the new House Velaryon of Stepstones is truly a boon to her rule, Rhaenyra thought in satisfaction as she watched Martyn and Daemion crackling over the new custom tariff laws.