Blood of Dragons

Under cold rain and dark skies over the Red Keep, Princess Daena Targaryen lay in state within the royal sept, together with the stillborn daughter who perished with her. Upon an ebony bier draped in black velvet, the late princess was dressed in the black she so favored. At her side, half-hidden in her arm, lay the stillborn daughter that died with her, with fine brown hair and (it was reported) grey eyes, leading some to whisper that the rumors were true about Princess Daena’s time in White Harbor, and the bold sons of the Old Man of the North. But now they were dead, and Daena never named the father, more’s the pity. Now they lay in state, awaiting the fires that would turn them to ash and bone. The court and household of the Red Keep came in a near-endless stream to pay their respects.

The first vigil was held not by silent sisters, but by noblewomen of the court and realm, seven in total: Lady Elyse Caswell, Lady Arwen Westerling, Lady Halanna Bracken, Lady Mylessa Fell, Lady Jannia Buckwell, Lady Jyana Lannister, and the aged, dowager Lady Taria Buckwell, who stood nearest the princess’s head despite the toll the long watch plainly took upon her. Through the day, many passed before the bier, high and low alike, and it was said that not only the great of court but grooms, guardsmen, washerwomen, scullions, and household knights came as well. Ser Omrys Baratheon was among the more visible mourners, overcome enough in his grief to cry aloud praise for the dead princess; not all present seemed to approve of such display. Others spoke more quietly. Lady Elyse Caswell was heard to say that though Princess Daena had been born too late for dragons, she would have been the finest of riders, unfettered and untamed. Lady Halanna Bracken, who had known the princess since girlhood when they she accompanied the princess into the Maidenvault, was among those visibly moved to tears.

There were others besides. Balian Blackwood came with his kin to pay respects, and bade a young boy with him look upon the dead princess bravely before saying the prayers the septons had taught him. Ser Otho Royce and Ser Jorin Darry were also among those who came forward in turn, while the heir to Casterly Rock, Ser Jonn Lannister and his household, stood among the mourners. For much of the day the rain beat hard upon the sept roof and windows, while septons and septas moved at the edges of the chamber to keep censers and holy fires tended, their prayers growing louder as the light failed.

Later came the royal family. With knights of the Kingsguard, Prince Aemon entered first, followed by Princesses Rhaena and Elaena, Princess Mariah of Dorne, and Queen Naerys, while Prince Daeron led the young princes Baelor, Aerys, and Rhaegel to the foremost pews. At this the first ladies of the vigil gave way, yielding their candles and places to the queen and princesses. Lady Taria Buckwell, though urged toward rest by age and grief both, begged leave to continue her watch, and was answered gently by Queen Naerys, who bade her sit awhile and promised she might return before the final hour, when the princess and her babe would be borne out.

Princess Rhaena’s sorrow was plain to see, while Princess Elaena bore hers with sterner countenance, though not without feeling. Queen Naerys and Princess Mariah also took their places in silence and prayer. Not long after, Daemon Waters, son of the late princess, was brought forward in mourning black, his silver-gold hair wet from the rain. The boy bowed to the ladies keeping vigil and thanked them for the honor done his mother before kneeling to pray over Princess Daena and the nameless child beside her. When he rose, Queen Naerys spoke softly to him of his mother and sister being with the Seven, while Princess Mariah sent him to sit with his royal cousins, who had come as much for him as for the dead they mourned.

And so the vigil continued beneath the rain, with mourners still coming and going in silence, the queen and princesses keeping their place beside Daena Targaryen’s bier as septons and septas offered prayers for the souls of the dead.