Chapter Text
“Mandia, issi ao rybagā ?*
- Issa, issa!”
In the courtyard of Dragonstone, under the shade of a great willow tree, sat two maidens. One rested her back onto the tree, eyes closed, as she listened to the tunes of a luth being played in one of the rooms above. The other lay on the grass, her head resting on her friend’s lap, her small and soft hands fidgeting with the lace of her dress.
“Your mother says you ought to study your histories more diligently. You cannot escape your lessons and ride on Meraxes all day long …
- Of course I can.”
Rhaenys' eyes fluttered open and her deep lilac dived into the icy blue of her friend.
“I thought you would have loved the idea of riding with me. Perhaps you do want to fly … Just not with me.”
Laughter erupted. Ryna sat up and turned towards her friend, feigning to take offense. Her lips parted in exaggerated shock and her hands spread across her chest, as her chin rised slightly.
“How dare you, my Lady, make such outrageous accusations! You know my heart and loyalty belong to you, and you only. Your brother is indeed a fine warrior and a pretty one at that, but it is you I have sworn to serve!”
The girl rose swiftly to her feet and bowed deeply, her hands holding the delicate silk of her gown, grinning and eyeing her friend. Rhaenys held out her hand toward her friend, to help her stand. The sweet chuckles of the girls filled the warm air for a moment, before the yard fell silent again.
Rhaenys had walked to the edge of the yard, and was leaning against a dark stone column, staring at the Narrow Sea. She had flown above the waters and watched the sun and the moon rise from the same horizon many times, yet the beauty of the soft twirling waves still amazed her. Ryna leaned on the other side of the column, her hand idly caressing the polished stone.
Softly, Rhaenys took a deep breath, before she started to sing.
“Tell me, my good Ser, is the fair maiden gone ? The woods are silent and my heart is pained. The sun has risen, as it did yesterday. But my hands are cold and I need her with me.”
“Tell me, my good Ser, where my friend has gone. The waves are silent, my fire has died. The moon has risen and the night is so dark. My hands are cold and I need her with me.”
Ryna turned slightly and let her chin fall on her friend’s shoulder, temple against temple.
“It is only a month. I will be back. You know I will miss you as well. I will return and I will bring you a beautiful gift. Gifts, even.
- It is not gifts I want. I want to come with you. Your father would not mind, I am sure of it. On Meraxes, I could bring you there and back in two days, perhaps three.
- I doubt your lady mother would be pleased.
- She would not, but it does not matter.
- The day will come when we are grown and free and you will go wherever you please. And I will ride with you, and we will go to Pentos, Volantis or even Asshai, and we will eat lemon cakes all day long. Just you and me. Together.”
Rhaenys let a sigh escape her lips, before smiling and joining her hands with her friend’s.
“Together.”