A Seashell in the Tide

In the Whirlwind of the Storm

The first time Daenaera Velaryon saw Lothar Bracken, she was a maid of fifteen, already turning into one of the most praised beauties at her grandfather's court, with the violet eyes shaded by long lashes that her mother was praised for and the refined features that had made her grandmother Dyanna Dayne the most adored woman at court in her time, rivaling Shiera Seastar herself. Slender and graceful, with a long mane of silver hair that she wore loose, with only a string of ruby to keep it back from her face, she could hardly make a step out of her chambers without being surrounded by a flock of admirers. Was it Edmyn Tully, recently widowed with no heir but the little girl who presented him to her? Or Donnel Swann? She couldn't remember, just like she couldn't remember anything particular about their early acquaintance – that was how little impression the boy made on her. Later, she would notice that he was one of those who showed no interest in courting and praising her which was quite odd in itself. But he wasn't rumoured to show interest in any other girl either which was why she was quite unpleasantly surprised to hear his name in the same sentence as her own.

"I don't think the idea is good, Your Grace," the Hand of the King was saying. "By the sound of it, the young Bracken won't know what to do with a girl like Daenaera."

She stood frozen, her hand still against the door of her grandfather's study.

"Indeed?" King Maekar's voice was gruff as usual but there was irritation underneath. "Are you sure that's the problem and not, say, his family, my lord Hand?"

Lord Bloodraven huffed and said it bluntly. "I happen to know that the young Bracken shows all signs of Aerys' inclinations."

Silence. Then, her grandfather's voice again. "Your little spies again, eh? You never gave up on them. I really don't know why I still bother with a Master of Whisperers at all…" A pause. "That's a shame. We could have bound those damned Brackens to us while Bittersteel still lives…"

Daenaera's heart was in her throat. No, no, no, she kept repeating soundlessly, as if she could sway the King's decision her way. He won't do this, she tried to reassure herself. For all the problems with his sons, Maekar Targaryen was ready to do just about everything for his grandchildren – and Daenaera, the eldest among them, held the top seat in his heart.

"Well," Maekar said, "it was a good chance. But of course, I am not going to make another Aelinor out of Daenaera. When she weds, it'll be to a man who can and wants to take her to bed."

Her relief was such that she almost burst into the room to hug him. Only the thought that then, he'd know she had been eavesdropping stopped her. It was not that she had set her eye on someone in particular but she most certainly didn't want someone who didn't want girls. She liked men. She wanted to do her duty. She wanted to bear children one day. All the things that, from their brief acquaintance, she was sure she wouldn't have from Lothar Bracken. She said a silent prayer to the Seven for sparing her – and for her grandfather.

Less than three years later, she sat on the couch in the new King's solar, listening to her mother and uncle arguing over the same subject.

"It isn't that simple, Daella," King Aegon was saying. "The Riverlands are a pot already boiling. I would have rather have Edmyn Tully for her but as you know, Father was against the match and now, it's too late, he's already wed. I dislike the idea as much as you do…"

"I doubt it," Daella Gargalen cut him off offhandedly. "I cannot help but notice that it's my daughter you're ready to sacrifice to him. Why didn't you promise him your Shaera, pray tell?"

"Shaera is too young," Aegon replied, trying to keep his composure. "And being the Lady of Stone Hedge is hardly a torture. I…"

"Being a wife of a man who's practically a eunuch is, though!" Daella reminded him. "No, Aegon, just forget about it. You provoked the disgruntlement with your lords, you save yourself. Leave Daenaera out of it. She isn't a pawn you can sell to the defective customer to deprive Bittersteel from his kin's support."

"We're all in it together," Aegon sighed. "If I fall, you fall as well and you know it. I pray it'll turn out better than you fear. He's still so young. With Daenaera's beauty…"

Did he believe the nonsense he was spewing? Daenaera couldn't say for sure. The Queen took a seat next to her on the couch and patter her hand but the girl extracted it angrily. Whatever Aegon did, he did it with Betha's support. Such was their relationship, much like the one that existed between Daenaera's mother and her husband, yet now Betha was ready to deprive Daenaera not only of such a bond but a true marriage at all. Another Aelinor out of Daenaera, Maekar had said. Another Aelinor out of Daenaera…

"You aren't being fair, Uncle," her brother Alyn spoke, quite civilly but no less determinedly than his mother. "We all know that Lothar Bracken will never consummate the marriage. We share friends and I know a thing or two about him… He won't do it even if Daenaera stands on her head and go to sleep like that. He just isn't interested."

Aegon looked troubled by this confirmation but didn't look away. He seemed to have taken his brother Aemon's advice too much to heart. Kill the boy, the Maester had said. The uncle Daenaera remembered from only three years ago would never force such a monstrosity upon her but King Aegon the Fifth of his Name only sighed. "I am very sorry," he said, looking at his sister.

"I do not agree to the match," Alyn said but even Daenaera knew it would not change a thing. Her brother had reached majority only a month ago and their uncle had been the formal ruler of Driftmark for him, just like their grandfather had been before him. Alyn simply didn't have the authority to be taken into account. Not against the King.

This time, Aegon did look away. His face was grey and haunted and that gave Daenaera some savage joy. At least she wasn't the only one to suffer, although his pangs of conscience would not last very long.

"I won't do it," she declared.

"You will," Aegon said.

"You cannot make me," she said defiantly and crossed her arms on her chest.

"Indeed I can. The stake is very high, Daenaera, and I regret that you have to pay the price. But he isn't the bad sort, they say. Perhaps with time he'll get used to you…"

At this moment, Daenaera was ready to throttle him. Her mother tried. Betha only shook her head and Daenaera heard her mutter something about never learning what not to say.

The new Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was left wondering if his duty included saving the King from his sister's wrath but finally he arrived at the reasonable conclusion that should Aegon want to, he could shake Daella off himself. For now, he just tried to keep her hands away which was not an easy task because she clawed at him like a furious cat, aiming for his eyes. Still, Ser Duncan looked at Lord Gargalen for a cue but the Dornishman just stared at his wife with no intention to intervene. He was against the match and had said so in blunt terms.

"You're going too far, Aegon!" Daella yelled. "Is my daughter this pitiful that she should wait for some so called man to get used to her? I think not. Just forget about the idea. I can't believe you're being this brazen. I won't agree."

"No one asked you," he finally snapped back, reaching for her hands again but not holding tight – he didn't want to hurt her, after all.

"I wish Father were alive! Him, you would have asked… oh yes!"

Aegon laughed curtly. "Yes, and he would have made his opinion quite clear, with his ridiculous doting on the children… But he isn't here, is he? We're alone in this mess, with lords who insist on harassing the smallfolk…"

"And that's why you think it's fine to harass my daughter instead?" Daella screamed. "Do you know why you are now so brave all of a sudden, dear brother?" she asked mockingly. "Because Father died, that's why. You weren't so brave to step over me and my children when Maekar Targaryen was alive…"

"I won't wed him," Daenaera said again, loudly. "I won't say the words."

Now, she, too, was screaming with horror and betrayal. Tears ran down her face. Her mother didn't know if it was Daenaera that she should calm down or herself, she was so enraged.

The meeting ended without anyone convincing the others in their rightness.

"Why isn't Aunt Daella here?"

Betha frowned at her daughter. "Hush now, Shaera, we're busy."

"But why isn't she here?" the girl insisted. "Isn't she going to come to the sept?"

"No," Daenaera said, looking indifferently down to her lap while her cousin was staring admiringly at her reflection in the mirror. "My mother doesn't want to attend this farce…"

Her voice was flat. She let the Queen and a few handmaidens brush her hair out, arrange the heavy folds of her sea-greeen bridal dress, touch some paint to her face. By now, she was quite sure that they had put something in her water this morning. There was no other way she'd feel so languid and indifferent to the upcoming wedding ceremony. She couldn't even muster any anger because of the calming potion – which was the best indication that there was a calming potion.

Shaera's eyes were wide with excitement. She was young enough to know nothing of unwanted marriages and husbands who did not desire women. She only knew that Daenaera's husband to be was tall and handsome and Daenaera was the most beautiful girl at court.

"I want to be a bride like you one day, Daenaera!" she announced and her innocent words almost broke Daenaera's tranquility. She shook her head.

"No, Shaera, do not speak so."

The Queen was deathly white, as Daenaera noticed with delight.

She did not protest when they finally led her to the Great Sept. Once or twice, she saw a reflection of her silver figure in the looking-glasses they passed by and each time the same thought came to her mind: that was what the Stranger must really look like. At one time, she thought she was even grateful for the potion they had slipped her because it helped her not to shake… but they had miscalculated the dose. Which she did not announce.

Just like announced beforehand, Daella was not in the sept. Alyn had refused to come as well, so each of the hundreds of guests started whisper when the King himself took his niece's hand and led her to the statues of the Father and Mother. Her future husband waited there. He did not look as terrified as she would have felt without the potion. Vaguely, Daenaera realized once again how handsome he was. Dark and handsome, the type of man that actually appealed to her. What an irony!

The High Septon was muttering something that was lulling her to sleep. But when at one point, there was silence and she realized that it was her turn to say the vows.

"I am not getting wed," she declared.

There was a slight movement among the crowd. The High Septon gave the King a look of confusion.

"Go on," Aegon ordered but he did not look at Daenaera. He was ashamed. As he should be!

"I do not accept him as my lord and husband!" Daenaera tried to yell but the High Septon just raised his voice and drowned her in the blessings.

"I do not pledge my loyalty!"

No effect.

"No, no, no!"

But no one waited for her vows anymore. They just proclaimed her the heir of Lord Bracken's wife.

She tried to cling to her cloak but the King ripped it away mercilessly. "Please child," he whispered. "Please do not fight me. It'll be easier for you…"

It was already late at night when Daenaera realized what had happened. And then, another primal fear rushed into her, shaking her like leaf: she had humiliated her new husband in front of everyone. And soon, they'd be alone…

"If something happens, yell," the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard told her as she moved down the hall to go out and into the bridal chamber, having been spared the humiliation of the bedding, at least. "I'll be there. I'll come."

She wanted to weep because of his concern. And it did soothe her a little, although her worries proved baseless: when Lothar Bracken entered the chamber, he didn't look ready to punish her. He didn't even look angry. He simply undressed and laid down without lifting a finger to beckon her. So Daenaera sat down at the window and stared at the black sky all night long.

And that was how their life together began: under the curse of the dark moon and the hopelessness of barrenness.