Shaera awoke and readied herself to present herself at the small council meeting.
~
"Shaera, we were discussing the tourney set for your wedding",
"Is that necessary, Viserys".
"Of course, you have been by my side. Nobody deserves a grander wedding than you",
"Very well then my king".
"Before you all leave", Rhaenyra spoke up.
"I wish to propose a way of mending the rift between our houses by offering a betrothal between my eldest son prince Jacaerys and the Princess Helaena".
"A most heartious proposal, my girl", Viserys beamed whilst Alicent pursed her lips. She did not want her only daughter wedded to someone illegitimate.
"I do not think it wise, they are both so young",
"what the queen means to say is that she has already decided to wed princess Helaena to Prince Aegon", Shaera announced.
"Thank you, Lady Shaera" , Alicent gritted out. She knew she had brought on Shaera's anger when she invaded her chambers.
~
Shaera was having her measurements taken when Rhaenyra came in.
"What is wrong dearest?",
"Nothing aunt Shaera, I just wished to spend time with you".
"Nyra, I have known you your whole life so I know when you are lying",
"I just, I will miss you not being here to guide me. I will feel alone without you here as my closest confidant".
"Rhaenyra, you are my pride and your mothers aswell. I could never truly leave you,besides I thought you would have been sick of my presence by now",
"Never, I need you aunt Shaera. I fear I will be constantly undermined without you".
"You are a dragon, your blood runs with power. Do not let the greens snuff out your fire. Now I will never be too far away, should you need me I will be by your side as soon as I can",
"I love you aunt Shaera, thank you".
"I love you too Nyra, do not even forget that".
She kissed Rhaenyra's forehead before she went to her chambers. Shaera had gotten a raven from Driftmark, she broke the seal and saw Rhaenys' neat handwriting. She was invited to Driftmark for Laena's wedding to the Sealord of Braavos. Shaera walked back to meet Rhaenyra in her chambers where she was with little Joffrey.
"Nyra, are you and Laenor going to Driftmark for the wedding?",
"Laenor is but the children and I are staying here because I feel Joffrey is too young to travel just yet".
"Alright, well I am to fly this eve so I will ask Laenor if he wishes to join on Seasmoke",
"Did you hear Laena claimed Vhagar?".
"Yes, a great achievement for her. Rhaenys and Corlys were proud of her. You know it reminded me of when you were born and we all watched Syrax hatch from her egg and cuddle up to you, it was adorable",
"We?".
"Me, Viserys, Aemma, Daemon, even Jahaerys. You are well loved Rhaenyra",
"It seems they were much simpler times".
"Indeed they were but we cannot dwell on that now. You have a beautiful family of your own to cherish as we did you when you were a babe. Now I must go to Driftmark but I will be back quickly",
"Yes, you have your own wedding to prepare for".
"You do not resent me for it do you?",
"for what?".
"Marrying Daemon",
"It stung at first but I have long since gotten over my feelings for Daemon".
"Perhaps you got over Daemon for another?", Shaera probed.
"I do not know what you speak",
"Nyra, I support you and Ser Harwin. I am glad both you and Laenor have found people to make you both happy in this situation".
"Thank you",
"I shall leave you both to rest. Goodnight dearest, I shall see you when I return".
"Goodbye aunt Shaera".
~
Shaera and Laenor flew on Aethalrax and Seasmoke to Driftmark where Rhaenys and Corlys greeted them.
"I always forget how beautiful High tide is. I can do nothing but admire Driftmark", Shaera spoke as they all walked inside.
"Where is Laena?", Laenor asked.
"Flying on Vhagar, tis all she does these days", Rhaenys answered.
"I can hardly blame her, we were both like her once. Always wishing to be on Dragonback, your daughter has one of the most wonderfully adventurous spirit", Shaera added.
"Indeed".
They watched as Vhagar's large form landed on the beach, sand flew everywhere as she decended.
"My, my, Laena how you've grown gracefully. Congratulations on your betrothal", Shaera complimented.
"Thank you Lady Shaera. Congratulations to you aswell". Laena was always polite, even if she were being stubborn she always had a reassurance about her.
"We shall feast then the wedding will happen upon the morrow", Corlys announced as they all walked inside.
At a late hour, Rhaenys and Corlys were speaking in their chambers.
"I never expected Shaera to marry at all, she always put it off and now she is marrying Daemon. I knew he wanted her but I never thought they would actually marry", Corlys spoke.
"I knew she would marry Daemon, I think everybody always has. They were always close and I think Shaera rejected all those betrothal because she was waiting for him even if she didn't realise it",
" I remember when we were fighting at the Stepstones. Daemon heard some of the men speaking of a gamble of who could bed the Realms desire. He has always been brash but I had never seen such pure rage and almost jealousy until he killed them all for what they said of Shaera".
"Daemon is a possessive man, it does not surprise me that he killed them for Shaera's. He would kill everyone in the entire seven kingdoms if she asked him too",
"I heard many speak that queen Alysanne did not betroth them because of his unrequited devotion to her".
"Indeed, husband. Shaera is believed to be a balance for Daemon but I think her fire is misunderstood. She is as much a dragon as anyone with Targaryen blood but calmed herself when Aemma died to stay strong for Rhaenyra",
"Daemon and Shaera are meant to burn together".
"Yes",
"Do you think our Laena will find that with Lord Benton?".
"Our daughter can never be truly tamed nor do I want her to be but I think she loves him. She gets the same look in her eyes as Daemon and Shaera do when the other is even mentioned",
"Im glad, our girl deserves to be happy".
"Indeed. Goodnight Corlys",
"Goodnight Rhaenys".
~
In the morn...
Shaera and Rhaenys were helping Laena get ready. The Velaryon girl looked ethereal in her wedding gown.
"Your mother has a gift for you, she asked me to keep it safe until now", Shaera announced. She brought forth a box and placed it on the vanity. She took out a dainty necklace, pearls went down the chain that connected to a small seahorse charm.
"Tis beautiful, thank you mother". Laena admired the necklace as Rhaenys put it on her neck.
"I shall leave you both for now, so that I may check that the preparations are in order".
~
Laena's wedding was a smaller ceremony than most but it was beautiful. The soft crashes of the waves against Driftmark, blue tides could be heard for miles. Vhagar, Aethalrax and Seasmoke lay further away on the sand. Corlys walked Laena to Lord Benton, the braavosi sea Lord was in awe at the beauty of his soon to be wife. After the ceremony, everybody entered High Tide to feast. Whilst Laena was distracted by her husband, Rhaenys approached Shaera.
"Thank you",
"I do not know what you mean".
"Yes, you do. Thank you truly Shaera for gifting it to Laena but why did you say it was from me when it was from you",
"After watching over Rhaenyra for most of her life I realised how important it is for a girl no matter how old should have a loving mother to guide her. I do not doubt the bond between you and your daughter but I thought it would give me some clarity knowing that I allowed you both to have this moment".
"There is more to it than that. You are both my friend and family, you have been for years so I know when you are withholding something",
"I forget how insightful you are. I am afraid of what my future holds, I am afraid of having children of my own. It was easy to care for Rhaenyra because she had Aemma and then I feel we stayed close out of our grief. I fear if I will be a terrible mother if I am to bare children".
"You have a right to fear those things but they will not happen. You are going to be the best mother any child could ask for, you may not want to hear this but in Rhaenyra's mind you are her mother. You raised her in Aemma's absence. I will admit when Laenor was born I thought I had no idea what to expect from motherhood but I enjoyed every moment and then Laena came and I got to experience it all again. The wonderful yet frightening feeling of being a mother is expected but when your child is in your arms, you would never wish to go back",
"Thank you Rhaenys".
"And also, if Daemon does something idiotic you and any children you may have will be welcome at Driftmark",
"We shall see. Now go and be with your children, Laena is a married woman now so she will not be here for much longer and Laenor will be returning to King's Landing soon enough".
"I shall but I ask can you make sure you both visit more often, the quietness is peaceful but we thrive on chaos in this family",
"Of course. I am going to congratulate them once more and then dance until the morn".
~
Shaera and Laenor returned to the Red Keep, the day before her wedding to Daemon. They had stayed in Driftmark longer than expected.
"Nyra dearest", Shaera announced as she saw Rhaenyra walking in the garden.
"Aunt Shaera, your back".
The two women hugged tightly.
"Are you nervous, you will be wed tomorrow", Rhaenyra asked.
"My worries were calmed at Driftmark with a conversation I had with Rhaenys".
"I wish to give you something",
"Rhaenyra, you needn't give me anything".
"You gave me something dear to you on my wedding day, now I wish to do the same for you".
Rhaenyra grasped her aunts hand and placed a small bag in it. Shaera opened the pouch to find a bracelet. She often only wore the necklace Daemon had given her years, the ring that matched one that Aemma had. Shaera felt bare without the black ring but she did not regret giving it to Rhaenyra, who always wore it.
"I may have gone to Dragonstone and retrieved it from the archives. Queen Visenya wore it when she wed Aegon the conqueror and is rumoured that she wore it once again when she cursed her name, never for it to be used again",
"Thank you Rhaenyra. I remember all the times we stayed up late in all hours of eve to tell stories of the great warrior queen, we were aways reprimanded by your father". Shaera reminisced at the memory. She admired the bracelet knowing it belonged to somebody she thought so highly of.
"We must get you to your chambers for plenty of rest for the wedding tomorrow",
"I love you dearest".
"I love you aunt Shaera".