The entire time they were walking, she was seething on the spot. Not at Rhaegar, no. But at the sheer stupidity of her son. Today was supposed to be a good day. One filled with magic and gatherings and no fighting. Dothraki may have it in their culture that a wedding without at least three deaths is a dull affair, but in their eyes this was not the case. If there was any death during a Valyrian wedding it was considered a bad omen. Not even a bad omen, a terrible omen. Yet her son had almost caused two people to die today- one of them being the sister of Lord Freeholder Rhaegar. That was an insult on another level and her cheeks burned red not in anger at the thought, but in embarrassment.
Yet Daenerys had not burned in the fire. Eyebrows creasing in the middle because surely she had not seen what she thought she had? It was true Lord Freeholder Maekar dabbled a lot with fire magic and due to this all of his children had developed a strong tolerance for intense heat, but intense heat did not mean being tolerant to literal fire. Not even dragons were, for if they were, the thousand they had in the Freehold of Old would've survived the Doom. It was an impossibility, but as she recalled the surprise on everyone's faces including Rhaegar's, it must've been true. Was it a one time thing? Or was there something there? Something so magical that there were no records of such a thing occurring? Mayhaps the rumours that spread regarding Lady Freeholder Rhaella dabbling in banned fire magic whilst pregnant as she believed it would result in a successful birth after having lost as many babes as she had were true.
But there was no time to think on such a thing. Malaelar had stopped Daeron from continuing whatever foolishness he was attempting. It would be a miracle from His Almighty himself if there was to be no punishment. For what he had done. Wondering to herself why he had thought even for a second acting as such would be tolerated by anyone. He was her eldest boy, her first child, and in a matter of seconds of sheer idiocy he had made both her own House and her husbands House laughing stocks. When they were alone, her father was definitely going to rip into her, something she was not looking forward to doing.
Jacaerys and herself had been close as babes, one of many reasons her father and his father had agreed to the match. Many a time did House Caeniar and House Dallaeron bind as one, priding themselves on the fact their blood was fully Valyrian unlike the Targaryen's, Celtigar's, Rhaeleris', and Velaryon's who were happy with diluting their blood. Their blood was pure, the purest Valyrian blood there was in the world. But as they got older, Jelaerya and Jacaerys drifted apart. The other very much already treating her like a trophy which she liked not, but they had been sworn in the Temple and so wed they had. Now, they were lucky if they spent more than a sennight in the others company per year the dislike was that strong. Yet he had given her sons, sons she loved with all her heart and sons she would happily stand in front of an angry dragon to protect.
"Dēmātās." (Sit.)
The rage coming off of Rhaegar almost made her tremble, but she stood her ground.
"Yydrās." (Speak.)
How best to say this? Without it incriminating her son any more than he had already incriminated himself? Remembering words her father had spoken to her when she had agreed to send her boys away to live with House Dallaeron permanently. In her fathers words, if Rhaegar could have his children be raised elsewhere, why couldn't they? It was a logical thing after all to build more bonds between their House's.
"Zaldrīzāeksia issi ñuhe dōne riñe, skorior soty daor. Zaldrīzāeksia lenton sās syytilīptis." (They are dragon riders my sweet girl, which we are not. They deserve to be with their dragon riding family.)
And so Jelaerya had reluctantly agreed to send her sons to Elyria to live solely with Jacaerys and his family. She hadn't seen them in years as he never took them back to Volantis to visit, he always expected her to come to him which was easier said than done. To get to Elyria one had to either take a ship around the broken peninsula they had once called home, sail up into Slaver's Bay, then turn west towards the island they called home or travel along the demon road to Mantarys then get a ship from there. The third largest island in the Freehold behind Lys and Bloodstone in the Stepstones. Viserys, Daeron, and Rhaemon had been sweet children. So much so she had agreed alongside her father Maelon to have her youngest sister Nesaemera marry one of her boys. Yet now her sons thought themselves higher than herself and many others. Believing that because they were dragon riders they deserved special treatment. Tears coming to her eyes solely at the thought because look where it had gotten them.
"Ñuha trēsy hen pāletaks yydrataks, Āeksios Ezīmillius Rhaegus." (My son spoke out of turn, Lord Freeholder Rhaegar.)
"Ziry iksos daor, ābrazyyrys. Dohaeriro ryptios daor, dohaeriros qilōnarios gūros." (He did not, wife. Slave did not listen, slave deserves punishment.)
Her gut dropped at this because Dragonstone was one of a handful of cities within the Freehold where slavery was illegal. By her husband referring to the servant as a slave, he was undermining the city which was an even more grievous thing to do. They were in Dragonstone, therefore had to abide by the rules of the Lord Freeholder and Lady Freeholder's.
"Zaldrīzesdōrot dohaerirossa emos daor, Jakaerys." (Dragonstone does not have slaves, Jacaerys.)
"Ezīmillion dohaerirossa mijiot, Ezīmillios iksos daor." (A Freehold without slaves, is not a Freehold.)
If she wasn't embarrassed before, she sure was now. Having to fight every bone in her body not to punch her husband in the face for his words which were now breaking into treasonous territory.
"Daeron aōhe hāedri Nesaemēre dīntas. Ziry ōdrilus daor, Nesaemēra ōdrilza. Ēlī trēsi sīr iksos daor." (Daeron is married to your younger sister Nesaemera. I will not punish him, as it will punish Nesaemera too. First son he is not anymore.)
Jelaerya about expected such a thing. If it were only the servant then there would be no issue there, but he had then gone after Daenerys Targaryen. Whether he had meant to harm or even kill her was unknown, but he had done it. And it was something that no one would stand for.
"Ñuha trēsy pirta istos daor. Ñuha trēsy ēlī issa- " (My son did nothing wrong. My son is.)
"Aōhe trēsi Elyriā pirta gaomā, Zaldrīzesdorot sosy daor se Zaldrīzesdoron iksan. Aōhe trēsy hen Zaldrīzesdoron vēttir ōdriles." (Your sons actions in Elyria are not wrong, but they are in Dragonstone and you are on Dragonstone. Your son is to be punished by Dragonstone law.)
And his words were thrown back in his face, taking some satisfaction with how red he had gotten at the response. Opening his mouth about to say something but she cut in to stop him in his tirade.
"Viserys sīr aōhe ēlī trēsi issa. Ziry Helaenā sīr Dārilaros Ezīmillio hen Elyriā issi- " (Viserys is now your first son. He and Helaena are now Heir Freeholder's of Elyria.)
"Bona Velrāenos ilībio Dārilaros Ezīmillior emilus daor- " (I will not have that Velraenos whore as Heir Freeholder.)
"Aōha ēngos ūndā, tolī tyyne trēsi kesā." (Watch your tongue, or you will be second son too.)
This only enraged Jacaerys more and he stood up about to attack Rhaegar but deciding it was not worth it and leaving the room in a fit of rage. Clearly seeing Rhaegar was not going to fall for his elitist bullshit which she was glad for. The less time in his vicinity, the better.
"Your husband is a swine."
For a moment she pretended to be confused.
"Don't play dumb with me, Jelaerya, I know you speak common."
Anger flushed through her at this because there was only one person who could've told him such a thing. Trust Baemala to rat her out, she was always looking to do so. Where her sisters had gone she had no idea. Visenya was with her husband and wasn't attempting to hide her growing belly from the babe she was carrying. One she hoped would survive more than a few days unlike her other two babes. Luckily, Jelaerya herself had never lost a babe, and she would always keep that close to heart. Nesaemera was probably hiding in shame at what her son had done and Delaesa was likely trying to mediate with her own husband. Her brothers though, it was difficult to say.
"I'm sorry for what my son did- "
"There is no need to apologise, your son fucked up, not you."
"And my husband."
Rhaegar snorted at her words, the language feeling odd on her tongue but at least there was no need to hide it anymore. Only Baemala knew because her sister had used her to practise the language with. But she hadn't stopped there, venturing into learning Old Tongue, Rhoynar, and Yi-Tish. Not that she ever dared speak Rhoynar in the Freehold, whilst they were on good terms now they hadn't been for thousands of years and that fact was still sour on many Valyrian's tongues.
"Velraenos whore huh? I wonder what Delaesa would say to such."
"My younger sister would kick him in the balls so hard he can't walk for a week."
He laughed at that remark, for if it weren't Delaesa to do so Jaemon would almost certainly do so. At least House Velraenos would be further tied to her own House again, as Helaena was Jaemon and Delaesa's daughter. Not the marriage that was promised, but at least they were of a similar age to one another unlike Rhaenyanne and Viserys with the former being almost twice her sons age. Her sweet sister had been so young when she had wed Jaemon, married within a few days of her having her first blood at ten and Jaemon was fifteen. Within three months her sister had announced she was carrying her first babe. And only babe, the birth being highly traumatic for her fragile body to the point it would be a miracle if she were to have another.
"Now we are in solitude, I can continue with what I was trying to get out of your sister. What happened between House Caeniar and House Dallaeron? Everyone knows you and Jacaerys hate one another despite being close when we were children, but I sense there is something more there."
"Oh there is, it is one of many reasons my father has been putting off his marriage to Daerya. How much do you wish to know?"
"All. I am Lord Freeholder of the top House, if I do not know the inner workings of mine own people and subjects, the title is just words in the wind."
He reached over then to grab a pitcher filled with Valyrian wine. One that was never sold outside the Freehold and many people came to the cities solely to taste it. Not as sweet as an Arbor Gold, not as sweet as a Dornish Red, landing in between the two and was pleasant on her tongue.
"Jaemon and Jaenyx believe your son is at fault, but Jacaerys is adamant Rhaenyanne was at fault- "
"Of course my husband would say such a thing. His ego is a fragile thing, after all."
"Judging by your words then, Lord Freeholder Jaemon and Lady Freeholder Jaenyx are correct?"
"Not wholly. There's truth to both sides."
Rhaegar leaned back then, sipping on his own glass as she swirled the dark red liquid in her own glass.
"It was my nameday, one of the rare few times that my dearest husband brought our sons to me and didn't expect me to go to them. The first thing they did? Eat their way through every type of nut pastry there is and caught up with everyone. There was to be a celebration that evening, my father and Lord Freeholder Malaelar were planning on arranging a date for Rhaenyanne and Viserys to wed. They don't dislike each other contrary to belief, but they don't like each other either. Cordial is the best way I can put it. So we all gathered at the Caeniar manse in the Old Town, allowing the children to run free and be children for another day. They went to the Rhoyne and began playing in the water alongside Eron Maegyr, Talisa Maegyr, and Aelora Gaeremon. There were a few guards and slaves with them for obvious reasons, ensure nothing bad happened.
"Now, I don't know exactly what happened next as I heard it from Talisa. They all got distracted and didn't notice Eron wasn't with them. Not at first anyway. Yet when they did, they frantically looked for him, finding him wedged face down between two rocks in the river. The guards freed him but he was already gone of this world. Viserys was upset as he and Eron as you know have always been incredibly close to one another. We heard what had happened around the same time and we all rushed down. The guards were holding Viserys and Rhaemon back, Daeron was staring almost numb. Talisa sobbing beside the body of her brother."
She cut off at this, the memory of that day still as vivid as if it were the day prior and not a few months before. Taking another sip of her wine before continuing.
"And then the unthinkable happened, at least, in Volantis standards. Viserys broke free of the guards and ran towards Eron only for a slave to run after him, push him to the ground so the guards could catch him again before running to the dead boy. He kissed him in some way? I'm not sure exactly what he done but he was blowing air into Eron's lungs. It went on for what felt like hours but soon Eron rolled over and began coughing up water. Malaquo ordered the guards back to the manse with his grandson and his granddaughter followed. In Volantis, there is one type of insult that should result in immediate death- "
"A slave striking someone of the ruling family."
Jelaerya nodded at the words. It was something she did not agree with nor did Nesaemera, but what could they do? Turning Volantis into a Free city would be a nigh impossible task so she bit her tongue on most matters.
"My husband demanded the head of the slave who pushed our son to the ground, but my father said no. For if the slave had not done what he had, Eron Maegyr would still be dead. A big fight broke out between them and they've still not gotten over it which is why they're been avoiding one another for lack of a better word. Rhaenyanne witnessed all of this and decided she wanted no part in the fight and left the next morning. A month later we received the communication of her wedding Maevon."
Rhaegar was silent as she finished her tale, waiting to see if she would say anything else but that was all she had to say. Nodding his head towards her to give her leave.
"Where is my son? I need to speak to him."
"Ask Walys, he is our head guard."
She nodded before leaving the room, noticing a few people were waiting in the corridor and a few heads turning away from her which confirmed they'd been listening in. Jacaerys was going to be furious with her, but that was the least of her worries. For now, she had to tell her son of the decision which she knew he was not going to take well. How did her sweet boy turn into what he was? At least her second son would be Lord Freeholder one day and not Jacaerys' younger brother Taherys. Now that would be something her father would raise the fourteen hells over. A fool she was not, he would still be mad but not at Rhaegar. No, his rage would be directed to Jacaerys and her eldest son. She found Walys soon enough after asking some people, a brute of a man standing near seven feet in height and nothing but muscle.
"Ñuhe trēsi gūrēlā." (Take me to my son.)
He obliged and began to lead her towards the back of the manse and down a staircase to underneath the building itself. One of many caves of the island being utilised fully for extra room. Her son being kept in a cell that had nothing but a bed and a chamber pot. Walys unlocking the door so she could step inside. Slowly walking over to him and seeing the hope in his eyes brighten as he clearly thought he was being freed. Instead, when she got close enough, her hand darted out and smacked him so cleanly across the cheek his head snapped to the side.
"Mittys!" (Idiot!)
He began to turn his head again but her hand smacked him across his other cheek.
"Skoro syt Dāeron?" (Why Daeron?)
"Dohaeriros ryptios daor-" (Slave did not listen.)
She smacked him a third time, eyes boring down into his own as anger boiled over within her.
"Zaldrīzesdoron dohaerirossa emos daor! Gūrēñās!" (Dragonstone does not have slaves! Learn!)
"Kepa- " (Father.)
"Daor Dāeron. Nykēla ryptīlā. Aōhe kepe baes otāpsa yn ziry istos daor." (No Daeron. Listen to me. Your father thinks he knows best but he does not.)
He son was clearly insulted at what she said there, which was only more salt in an already open wound. No words needed to be spoken for the truth to come out. He was still going on about that? It was one of many things they fought over. Whilst true their blood was pure unlike many of the other families, Jelaerya did not believe this made her better than the others unlike her husband had. He was one of many who had been outraged when Lady Freeholder Rhaella had promised her eldest son to a Rhoynar woman. Her own father had been furious by such a thing, for he had wished for Rhaegar to take herself to wed. Something which she would happily do given everything.
"Lenton Targārien baes lenton issa, Lentos Dallāeros daor." (House Targaryen is top House, not House Dallaeron.)
"Ūī gūroti!" (We deserve it!)
"Ūī gūrototy daor! Līr massitin ñuhon lenton syluti mīvojughā. Kostille ūī iksos daor, trēsys ñuhus." (We do not deserve it! You forget what happened to my House when we tried to do so. It is not worth it, my son.)
Her voice was so loud now it would not surprise her if her words echoed into the manse itself. Clearly her son was shocked at the tone of her voice as never had she spoken to him in such a way. Was she at fault for how he had turned out the way that he had? Mayhaps. But a large majority of it did lay at Jacaerys' feet. Yet he was her husband, and she would not betray him and therefore would keep quiet on what their son had let slip on how he considered their House to be the top House of the Freehold. For if Rhaegar found that piece of information out, there was no doubt in her mind Elyria would be nothing but charred bones. House Dallaeron may have the largest dragons in the Freehold, but this would not stop them from the rage of the top Lord Freeholder.
"Zaldrīzāeksia iksan, Dāeros. Ñuha hāedar dīntā iksan. Rhaegri avy tolī qilōnarion iksos daor hen kesi drēji kirimvose." (You are a dragon rider, Daeron. You are wed to my youngest sister. Be thankful Rhaegar is not punishing you more because of these facts.)
At least now he seemed to be actually listening to her and not wanting to argue with her. They spoke for hours, hearing everything he had to say because it was clear he was being told things which were highly embellished. It was common knowledge Dragonstone did not have slaves, so by saying they did was an insult as is. Pushing the slave was a second insult, and pushing Daenerys was the final sword in the gut.
"Daeneryy usōvīlā, se avy drīvesse jorepilā." (You will apologise to Daenerys, pray she forgives you.)
"Kessa muña." (Yes mother.)
"Ēlī trēsi bōsa iksō daor, Viserys issa." (You are no longer first son. Viserys is.)
"Skore?!" (What?!)
"Ēlī trēsi bōsa iksō daor, sīr tyyne trēsi iksan. Āeksio Ezīmillior dōrī kesō daor se Nesaemere Ābrāzme Ezīmillior iksos daor. Āeksio Ābrāzmā jentyr kesā. Viserys Helaenā sīr Dārilaros Ezīmillioro hen Elyriā issi." (You are no longer first son, you are now second son. You will never be Lord Freeholder nor will Nesaemera be Lady Freeholder. Instead, you will both become Lord and Lady Admiral. Viserys and Helaena are now Heir Freeholder's of Elyria.)
His face fell afterwards, clearly not thinking of what may happen and instead thinking in the moment. Now, he had gotten more than a rude awakening. Huffing loudly before leaving the cell and making her way back up to the manse. Numerous pairs of eyes darting her way but soon she felt a hand on her arm as she was dragged outside by Baemala. As they were identical, to make it easier to tell one another apart, they all did something differently. Visenya always wore a brooch of their House colour, she herself always wore a chained necklace weaved with a dark yellow ribbon, and Baemala always braided her hair intricately. Not stopping until they were outside and no one was around.
"What are you playing at, sister?!"
"Explain, now."
She rolled her eyes, caressing the part of her arm Baemala had gripped tightly which was now beginning to feel numb. But as her sister was Heir Freeholder, she had to answer her honestly, as much as she did not want to do so.
"I tried to play it as he spoke out of turn or had gotten mixed up with the differences between Dragonstone and Elyria, but Jacaerys stepped in and backed him up. Stating the slave needed to be taught a lesson."
Baemala closed her eyes before muttering angrily under her breath.
"Fucking prick."
Fucking prick indeed.
"He then said a Freehold with no slaves was not a Freehold. It became clear my wonderful husband has been filling my sons head with lies but he dug Daeron's grave with that comment. My eldest is no longer in line to become Lord Freeholder."
"Father won't like that."
"Nay, he will not. But Rhaegar has agreed that Viserys and Rhaemon are not disinherited. I think you can guess how Jacaerys reacted."
Baemala didn't need to say anything, for it was common knowledge that after Rhaenyanne broke her betrothal with Viserys and he had been betrothed to Helaena to try and weave them together again, he had wanted to spin it in such a way that Rhaenyanne was evil and that Viserys had done no wrong and did not deserve to be shunned so openly.
"What did he call Helaena?"
"Velraenos whore."
"Better not let Jaemon, Delaesa, or Jaenyx hear that. Or he may just lose his stones."
She didn't plan on doing such a thing.
"What did Daeron say when you went to speak to him?"
"A lot, some of it treasonous."
"How treasonous?"
"Can you not just let it go?"
From the look her sister gave her, she knew the answer. Sighing loudly as Shadow flew above them alongside Meleys and Praxarnys.
"He believes House Dallaeron deserves to be top House. I think you can guess where he got that from."
Baemala began cursing now at this, for House Caeniar knew what it was like to try and reach for that position. They'd lost all of their dragons in a stupid mission from their ancestor Galaenor, and they had tried twice more to take the top position. But every time had failed, becoming further down the line in importance each time they did so. No more would they rise to such a thing, for if they did, the third time may just be the last time a Caeniar would exist. That was something that could not happen under any circumstances.
"I will speak to Taecegon and father, we will get your boys away from Jacaerys' poison. Mayhaps even look into an annulment- "
"That's asking for House Dallaeron to rain fire on Volantis."
"Perhaps, but I wish for you to be happy sister which you are not. You are miserable, you rarely see your boys and your husband only cares for bettering his own House and not what it will cost to better said House. You deserve better than that."
The words were sweet to hear. She'd always been closest to Baemala out of her siblings, Delaesa and Visenya being far too argumentative and Nesaemera had only been a quickening in their mothers womb when she had wed Jacaerys.
"There is another way- "
"No, you will not arrange for someone to kill Jacaerys. Whilst his death would pain me not, my sons deserve to have a father."
Only now did Jelaerya realise her eyes were filled with tears as everything came to the forefront. Her sister spotting it and pulling her in tightly and patting her back.