Veneria

Veneria stroked Thaderys under the chin. The white dragon made a rumbling sound. Thaderys' scales were white as snow with hues of silver and light gray.

The entire household of Stormcloud was busy preparing for Veneria's departure. Fifty armed men, three knights, less than forty servants, a ship, and a dragon. That was all. Her journey seems like a jape in the eyes of the gods but she had faith in his father's decision and hers. She wanted this. It's been so long since she'd seen a sky so blue as this. It had been her dream of sailing away from Storm Eye castle and to wherever the wind might take them.

Ser Erik stood beside her. He was young to be a knight but there was no one else besides Ser Raul and Ser Samuel to be the knights of Stormclouds. Most of the men were not qualified of such ranks. Admittedly, the Stormcloud doesn't have the talent or skills in war but they have far greater skills that could win them their name back.

"Everything is settled, my lady." Ser Erik spoke as Thaderys flew up to the sky, soaring high and circling the Storm Eye castle one last time. Veneria felt the wind in her cheeks. "Very well. We might as well depart now than later."

With that, Ser Erik commanded the servants and the captain of the ship and they slowly departed the docks of the castle. Veneria watched with pride and sadness the grey-white castle slowly becoming smaller and smaller in her eyes. She won't fail her father, she swore. She was the only daughter and heir left of their family and she won't die and bring their name to the grave to be forgotten forever.

Their journey was uncertain but hope filled Veneria's heart. She went inside her quarters with Ser Erik and Ser Samuel following behind her.

"Any news to Daenerys Targaryen's whereabouts?" Veneria stared hard at the map laid on the table. King's Landing, Riverrun, Twins, Winterfell, Casterly Rock, The North—the names felt familiar and yet strange to her tongue.

"She's back in Astapor, my lady." Ser Samuel reported.

"Astapor? She's not heading to Westeros yet?"

"No, my lady. Our sources said that she's to rule the whole of the ends of the Earth before sailing to Westeros to take the Iron Throne."

Veneria smiled, "Ends of the Earth. Of course. Very well." Veneria circled the table and traced Astapor with her slender fingers, "That's where we'll head then."

"What of the Iron Throne, my lady?" Ser Erik asked. Veneria looked at him. His black hair reminds her of the ravens. Dark wings, dark words. And yet if such darkness could bring this kind of beauty… His eyes were beautiful, almond-shaped blue. He was handsome, that Veneria knows. How she remembers the old days where this brave knight was once a mischievous young boy who used to play with her, climbing trees and swimming in the river. Now, they feel like strangers to one another. The princess and the other, a knight.

Veneria sighed, "The Iron Throne is no prize of mine. I have no claim to that and I would never do. All my father and I want is to let the realm know the name of our family that had been forgotten since the fall of Aerys." She turned to the older knight with graying hair and kind eyes, "Ser Samuel, see to it that Ser Raul is not harmed by Thaderys. I'm afraid they haven't been pleased with each other's acquaintance."

"Yes, your grace." Ser vowed and left the room.

Veneria glanced at the map and then to Ser Erik, "Advise me, Ser Erik. Would it be wise sailing to Astapor?" there was a hopeful tone in Veneria's voice. She didn't want Ser Samuel thinking that she has doubts. A ruler must never let his people know she has doubts or else they will doubt her, her father's words lingered in her mind. But she trusts Ser Erik and what he has to say and more than that.

Ser Erik looked back at her with familiarity. "It might be best to arrive there as guests, my lady. Not as conquerors."

Veneria smiled, "Why, we cannot conquer with fifty men."

"But you have a dragon—"

"And so is Daenerys. She has three."

Ser Erik approached her, his helm in his left hand. He wore a thin cloak of dark shade of blue, almost like the night and on it is the sigil of the Stormcloud, a Thunderbird with its wings spread wide and eyes fierce with lightning. His armor was nothing fancy but he wore it handsomely. "But yours is from the blood of Balerion, the greatest dragon that ever lived."

Veneria gently looked at him. She can see the knight he had become and yet the ghost of the boy she once knew keeps appearing before her. They were children once and now they are sailing the Earth to start the mission their family had been dreaming for.

"But remember, even Balerion and Rhaegar were defeated by the brave men." Veneria shook her head.

"Do not doubt yourself, my lady—"

"Veneria. Please call me that one last time." Veneria pleaded.

Ser Erik's eyes showed astonishment and hesitation. "My lady, I cannot—"

"That is an order." Veneria smiled sadly.

Erik casted a downward glance before closing his eyes, sighing, and then opening his eyes again to stare at Veneria, "Never doubt yourself and your heart, Veneria." Her name lingered in the air like sweet lavender oil.

His voice left courage in her heart. She turned away from him and back to the map, "We will arrive in Astapor as guests. Gather the gold and jewels we may present as gifts to show our intentions. Leave sufficient amount of men on the ship and only a few with me on land until I say so. Ser Raul will stay on the ship while you and Ser Samuel will come with me to Astapor."

"As you say, my lady." Ser Erik vowed and exited the room.

My lady, Veneria thought. She's been called by such name for years and yet the sound feels foreign to her when it comes to him.

Their journey would take days, a week even and it was all the time Veneria needs to prepare herself. She stared at the blue sea, the dragon gently snoring on her lap, listening to the calming sound of the sea breeze. Veneria knows she's uncertain of what will happen when they arrive at Astapor and finally face Daenerys Stormborn, the last Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons. Stormborn, Veneria had heard the name before but it had become accustomed to the Targaryens. And now the Stormclouds, the forgotten kingdom and house. They were once the greatest houses before, side by side the Stormborn and Stormclouds ruled the realm before the Targaryens or Baratheons or Lannisters.

She intends to bring that sisterhood back no matter what it takes. The sisterhood and their name, that's all. And yet, she feels she has to do something far greater than sailing the sea and meeting the Mother of Dragons. Far greater.