33 Return to Driftmark

Laena stared at the sky outside of the window. The recent events were rather surprising to her. For a moment, she felt as if she was a character in a novel.

A main character.

Laena clasped her fingers into a fist and huffed, a smug smile curling onto her visage. Her mother behind, drank tea... shaking her head at the girl's little antics.

It reminded Rhaenys of her own glory days. The era of Jahaerys... when the Targaryens were united and were a force to be reckoned with.

Suddenly, she had the urge to fly with Meleys along the vast sea in front. However, one look at the murky waters made her shake her head nevertheless a smile crept onto her face.

It almost made her laugh when Prince Daemon and Princess Rhaenyra had to swim back to Driftmark to borrow one of their ships only to get wrecked due to the turbulent storm and swim back to shore again.

Prince Baelon, the heir to the Iron Throne... Rhaenys had decided that he is a menace. His dragon ate Rhaenyra's crew and she had no idea if it was on purpose.

In this situation, it could be said that to have Laena marry Baelon is a wager. The Queen Who Never was not someone who gambled, in fact, she despised gambling with a passion.

It was understandable since she was someone with a sober disposition. A temperament that would rather not take risks but at the same time act as foolish as a sober person would.

To her, Prince Baelon was an enigma. Many believed that Daemon is an enigma... however if one spends enough time, he or she can easily have a catch of Daemon's character.

In the time she spent with Prince Baelon, she could only figure out what Prince Baelon let her. Arrogant, obnoxious, honest, straightforward, cruel, and cunning.

She believed that is what most would have as the first impression of the prince but she did not think so.

If one analyzed deeply then one could mistake his arrogance for confidence, confidence in his dragon, his family, and personal ability. Utter confidence that is unwavering.

As Rhaenys sipped her tea she thought more and more about the young prince. Obnoxious... this could have come from the fact that the prince was locked in a room due to being sickly and had very few people to speak with heart to heart.

Cruelness, this was a Targaryen trait hence she was not surprised. She did not understand if the Prince was born cunning, a newcomer would not understand the game much...

At that moment, the cup of tea shook a little. A small crack pervaded as the Queen went forward to hold it.

She gulped her saliva as a ghastly expression encroached on her visage.

"...unless Prince Baelon is not looking to play the game, is it a threat to all the players? That... he is to destroy the game?"

As dangerous thoughts crossed Rhaenys's mind, a horn sounded outside of the windows.

"Mother!..." Laena pointed as she spoke loudly. Rhaenys turned to look at her sweet child.

"Yes?"

"A fleet of ships is coming closer to Driftmark."

Rhaenys frowned, she stood up immediately and looked out the window. An armada of ships sailed across the murky waters that were now not as turbulent as before.

All of them held symbols of Targaryens and Velaryons at the mast with many of the sailors holding white flags.

Rhaenys's expression went through a series of reactions. Laena at the side examined her mother curiously, it was amazing to see so many different expressions in a quick span of seconds.

From shock... to more shock. The Queen Who Never Was... was stumped as she stared into the distance.

The guards that came in to inform the Queen of the situation did not speak as if picking up the atmosphere.

Rhaenys and Laena glanced at each other, their eyes meeting. Both of them had the same thoughts in their mind.

'Did Prince Baelon... fulfill his promise?'

'Is this Prince Baelon's doing?'

'Is my father... my husband... back?'

~

At the Driftmark Port, ships had parked near the shore. Their anchors had been lowered down into the water.

The fish market was bustling with cheerful men, some were drunk, some gambles, and some sat with a few whores in their lap as they spoke about their deeds in the recent war.

The overall mood was rather jolly. If one saw the scenario, they would be shocked. Every other moment, one of the drunk soldiers would scream at the top of their lungs.

"ALL HAIL PRINCE BAELON!!! THE DOOMBRINGER!!! DRAGONFEEDER!! LORD OF FIRE AND KING OF DRAGONS!!!"

Rhaenys and Laena were shocked as they observed the soldiers that were bustling in Driftmark.

Bards sang songs of Targaryen's greatness and praises of Prince Baelon as the savior of Stepstones.

Many even worshipped him, it was a scenery from a dreamland. Such loyalty... such respect... the duo had never expected something like this.

How did Baelon make all of these men like this in a single night?

Moreover, where was he?

*FLAP* *FLAP*

A huge gust of wind bellowed on the ground, it shook for a few moments before the sea water turned into a mini whirlpools and became tsunamis that drowned nearby islands.

"GHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!"

A huge roar resounded as it cut through the air, bringing light to the island as the clouds shifted apart.

In the distance, a dragon glided across the skies. Two more followed behind. At that moment, a few more roars resounded.

Before anyone could register what was happening, Meleys and Vhagar took for the ciel, the four dragons revolved around a particular dragon... the biggest and meanest of them all.

The dragon in question had metallic black scales and dark grey fur, unlike other dragons it had arms and it's eyes were deep blood red with a hint of mad purple in them.

It resounded another roar and the fire that erupted from it's mouth seemed like another sun itself, it's heat made everyone below sweat profusely.

All the drunkards and women had snapped out of their intoxicated state and looked straight ahead to where the dragons danced for the alpha dragon.

Upon nearing the shore, a figure jumped off the dragon, landing on the ground perfectly. The silver-haired man walked with long strides as he dragged the body of a man behind him.

*OHHHHHHHHHHH*

Almost everyone knelt. It was unknown if it was due to the Prince's natural dominance or the dragon behind him looking at everyone menacingly... and hungry.

The prince looked as good as the day everyone first saw him. His ghastly pale skin twinkled slightly, his piercing red eyes and his chiseled face with the most perfect body ever.

He wore dornish a robe of extremely high quality that was sewn with many jewels.

His hair was tied in a neat tail, his hands were adorned with rings and bracelets.

A flower crown and a dornish crown rested on his head. He looked... terrifying yet beautiful.

Compared to him the man dragged behind him looked like he was beaten half to death. The man's face was covered in bruises, his nose was broken and his right eye was swollen shut.

A smirk plastered on Baelon's face as he walked quietly with long strides. Everyone in his way parted making a path for him, leading to the final destination where the Velaryon Lady and the Targaryen Princess stood.

"Prince Baelon, how good of you to return!" Laena spoke in a calm voice.

Baelon did not speak. He instead threw the body of Craghas Drahar at the feet of Rhaenys and Laena. He looked at the beautiful ladies with a bored expression.

"Shall we get married now?"