(Drakken's POV)
[A Week Later]
"Papa!" Astorias jumped atop my lap, "I want a Blessing!"
I raised an eyebrow, "Huh?"
She hugged my chest, "I've been training well!" She said brightly, "I am getting better! I want a Blessing!"
I looked to my side, seeing Maegelle holding Viktoria as the girl was snacking on a lemon cake. I noticed Maelor sitting on the floor, playing on his lute while he had a focused look on his face.
Maegelle looked at me, "A Blessing...." She said softly, "I don't know about that. From what Riktor and Sylas experienced, it was incredibly painful. I don't know how Saera would feel if Astorias is bestowed with one. I wouldn't want Vaella to have one either for the same reason."
Astorias looked at her, "But Mama, I can handle it!" She said, "I am strong! My master is Visenya Targaryen!"
Viktoria looked at her, "Sister is strong." She nodded, "She is very strong."
Maegelle gave her a warm smile, "I don't doubt it, dear." She said, "But your brothers, they were bedridden for days after receiving their Blessings. It's not as easy at it sounds. Besides, I don't think your Father has one for you."
She looked at me, "You don't?"
I blinked, "She's right." I said, "I don't."
She pouted, "But I want one."
"Your Mother is right." I said as I set her aside, "It is not an easy thing to endure. I don't think you're ready."
She frowned, "Papa...." She said, "You think I am weak? Cause I am a girl?"
I raised an eyebrow, "When did those words come out of my mouth?"
She looked down, "You don't have to say it." She said, "You care more about my brothers because they are boys, that is why they have Blessings....."
I rolled my eyes, "Don't you dare try your manipulation tricks you learn form Saera." I muttered, "It's not that, Astorias. The thing is-"
"Shut up!' She cried out as she jumped out of the couch and ran out of the room, "I hate you!"
I blinked, "Uhh...."
"Sister is mad." Viktoria said
I looked at her, "Oh, you think so?"
Maegelle sighed, "I think we need to speak about her." She said, "Ezra may have been right after all. What he said all that time ago. Astorias is a wild card; we don't know what she'll do next. I mean, yes...normally, the societal norms for women are to be lady-like, but she doesn't fit those norms. Once in a while, a woman steps above those norms and becomes respected; Visenya is one of them."
I looked at her, "What are you trying to say?"
"Perhaps she wants to be equal to your sons?" She said with a slight smile, "I think it's nice. And I have nothing against her choosing the path she wants to walk. Saera is a bit skeptical because she finds it hard to believe she birthed such a wild little one."
"What is she talking about? Astorias is a spitting image of her mother. She just happens to show interest in combat." I said as I stood up
"Papa!" Viktoria said with a smile, extending her hands towards me
"And this one....." I picked her up, "She is like her sister but less aggressive, aren't you, my dear?"
"Hehe..." She hugged me
"Yes, she's a dear." Maegelle said, "So calm...but she can be a bit spoiled."
"Hm...." I said as I heard the music suddenly stop, "Oh? What is it? Reached the end of your genius?"
I was speaking to Maelor, who was sitting down on the floor. He was playing the lute in a very soft manner, the music was faintly in the background but noticeable; like a nice ambient sound.
He looked up at me, "I can't focus."
"Well." I said, "You have to change that. Learn to focus properly."
Maegelle smiled at him, "My beautiful boy, I am sorry. Did we break your focus?" She asked, "It's okay, your Father was leaving. And you can play your songs as much as you'd like in front of me."
"My Older Sister will become a wild storm, difficult to quell." he said as he continued to play
"What, did you see it in a dream?" I asked
"No." He said, "It's obvious to me."
"Hm." I said
I heard the door open and I turned to see Sylas walking up to us, "Why was Astorias crying?"
"She wants a Blessing." I said, "You're back from Casterly Rock?"
He nodded, "Yes. But I come bearing bad news with nothing but shame." He said seriously as he looked down, "The prototype was stolen."
"Oh no." Maegelle let out a slight gasp, "What happened?"
"I don't know." Sylas said, "One of Grandsire's cousins must've taken it down to Lannisport to brag about it, and some Myrish pirate stole it."
"Hm. I warned you." I told him
He nodded, "I know." He said, "And I am ashamed. I come requesting permission to look for the pirate ship and destroying it. It is a Myrish one with a red flag, a single saber pointing down on it. "
"Not our problem now." I said, "Unless you're worried they will replicate it."
"I doubt they can." He said, "There was only one round of bolts, and I kept the loader. If they accidentally shoot it, that is it...there won't be another round of bolts."
"Hm." I said, "Well....."
"Nothing to worry about it."
****************
(Third Person POV)
"Aegon....." Visenya said as she sat at the base of a tree, crosslegged, "He was my younger brother....."
Riktor was leaning on another tree, a few meters away, "Yes...." He said, "Both of you were Aerion's children, right? And Rhaenys."
"Yes...." Visenya said softly as she looked down, "From the moment he was born, I felt a sense of duty. To protect my little brother. And when Rhaenys came to our world, that sense of duty got stronger. It was.....I can't explain it."
"Hm...." Riktor looked up, "I can relate to that."
"Oh, really?" Visenya asked, "How so?"
"When Sylas was born, my Father told me it was my responsibility as the Eldest to protect him. So as long as I could remember, I would be with him, thinking I should be protecting him. " Riktor told her, "And then after being the only two Drakkengards.....Vaella and Astorias came along. And that feeling....that pressure of being the Eldest, it got stronger. Next thing I know, Father brought forth all of these rascals and I have no clue what to do."
Visenya looked at him, "I see." She said, "You are the Eldest, your Father has great things planned for you. And he expects you to protect your siblings. And you have many of them."
"Yes.' Riktor looked at her, "But you. It was just you three."
Visenya nodded, "As children, Aegon and I trained together." She started, "I became as skilled as he did, trying to stay true to my duty. Eventually...our Father wed us together. We were husband and wife.....but Aegon thought of it as duty...because our Father wanted it to be so. I didn't think of it like that. In fact, I didn't know if it was my duty....or if it was what I wanted."
"They say that he took Rhaenys out of desire. And not long after." Riktor asked, "Was that true?"
"It happened not long after. Hm...the truth is.....it happened a few days after Aegon and I married. We hadn't even consummated the marriage." She said softly, "He told my Father that because he hadn't consummated it, he could still take Rhaenys as well. And because my Father wanted to preserve the Dragon's Blood, he accepted it. So Aegon, Rhaenys, and I.....we partook in a Valyrian Wedding. And that night, we consummated it....."
"I see...." Riktor said, "So it's true..."
Visenya looked down, "Aegon did care for me. He loved me." she said, "But that night....it became apparent, what kind of love he had for me. It was nothing like the love he had for her."
"Hm....." Riktor looked down
"Your Father has many wives, does he not?" Visenya asked him
"He does. Three. And two mistresses." Riktor looked at her, "He had a fourth wife. Sylas's mother. She passed a long time ago."
"I see...." Visenya looked at him, "Does he love them?"
"Hm....." Riktor rubbed his neck, "It's hard to get a read out of my old man. He's....an enigma. Even after years, my Mothers can't truly understand him. But.....I guess he does."
"That's....that's nice." Visenya said
"I'll tell you one thing and this is for sure." Riktor said, "He probably shows them an equal amount of love. Or....Desire. Whatever he wants, he gets. And what he doesn't, he doesn't get. So if he didn't want children from them, Sylas and I would be the only sons of Drakken."
Visenya smiled slightly, "That is something beautiful."
"Huh?" Riktor raised an eyebrow
"Your Mothers." She said softly, "They are lucky."
"To be loved that way by a single man."