PENTOS 

123 AC

They say the gods flip a coin for each Targaryen born and the realm holds their breath, waiting for a side to land. Madness or greatness, whichever side it may be, the realm will either bleed or rejoice.

Hira wondered which side her coin fell on, for she was only half Targaryen by her father's blood and Lengii through her mother's. Would she be poisoned with madness or perhaps her Leng blood diluted this sickness? Hira supposed it didn't matter. She may have her father's outworldly violet eyes, but she is ever her mother's daughter, an exact replica of the woman. Long slender neck, lithe frame and high cheekbones.

Which is why the God-Empress of Leng shipped her youngest daughter to Pentos to her father Prince Daemon Targaryen.

"To protect the throne you must go to your father. As my second daughter your duty is to survive and secure the empire if I fail in this war."

Hira protested, she wanted to be by her mother's side during the civil war in which her uncle's greed had started. She yearned to stand in battle with her elder sister and prove to the empire that she was a Han. She demanded, as her right as a princess to fight, yet her mother was unmovable with her decision. She wouldn't risk her spare.

After the Empress' exhausting and brutal birth, the healers warner her of her barrenness. The Elders whispered how it was due to her coupling with an outsider, a Dragonlord of the Old Valyria no less which caused her infertility. And so the Empress was left with two children to succeed her.

Hira wondered if her mother regretted having her with the Rogue Prince.

A fine man, devilishly handsome but dangerous, much like the dragon he rides on, her mother had said one night as they laid on the forest grass outside of the Emerald Palace. There are moments when the sunlight catches your face, my sapphire, and I see your father in your eyes. In the way you grip a sword and twirl a knife. Especially when you grin. You bare my face and colours, but your eyes, those belong to Daemon.

She hasn't met her father, not once in her ten and three years of life. She knows of him, his skills and accomplishments, his lady Velaryon wife and twin daughters. His dragon, his house and the titles he had earned. But as a father, she knows next to nothing.

Hira, despite being a Lengii daughter, was not loved the way her mother or sister was. Leng was notoriously known to have a deep mistrust for outsiders. Hira may look Lengii, with her dark as night hair and piercing, distrustful stare, but she will forever be known as the mongrel of Leng. 

A deep sadness settled inside her. She loved her people, for they are hers to protect once her mother passes, but love is not guaranteed when a crown is in the game. Not by the person you marry out of duty, or the people pledged to follow you.

"We're to dock in a little under an hour, my princess."

Hira turned away from the ocean to face her cousin who had slowly crept up to her. Next to Ming were Linh and Jade who waited patiently. Ming was her cousin on her mother's side, the daughter of the Empress' youngest brother, with brown hair and piercing Lengii amber eyes.

She nodded, a small smile gracing her lips, ever grateful for her cousin's presence in a foreign land. Hira had handpicked three noblewomen to travel with her to act as her court ladies. Her four Sapphire Guards followed too for her protection, plotted along the deck.

"I suppose we must dress in the best garments to greet the prince and his wife." Hira said, fingertips tapping the wooden port.

"You are right, Princess." Linh answered, her blue dyed hair a contrast to the rising sunlight that beamed from above.

Her youngest court lady Jade of Yi Ti replied, "Might I suggest the red and black gown to appeal to your father's house?"

"No." Shaking her head, Hira heads to her cabin, the ladies following.

As she entered the cabin she was immediately pounced on by Pilak. The basilisk hissed happily as his long tongue licked a strip of saliva across Hira's face. The raven haired girl had to step back to avoid toppling over her ladies, as her hands grabbed one of Pilak's reptilian arm to hold him steady.

"Hello, my love." She greeted him in Lengii, petting him gently.

The basilisk had been her companion since birth, his egg cradled in her own crib and hatched on the day of her birth. Her grandfather had said it was a blessing by the Old Ones to be soul-tied to a great forest beast. She led him to the bed and threw a piece of meat into his mouth, petting him some more.

Ming shuffled through her chest of draws, pulling different fabrics and materials out.

"I shall wear the colours of Han for this occasion."

I have no need to appease the man who abandoned me.

"A perfect choice, cousin."

Ming pulled a silk gown layered in different shades of blue and teal and presented it to Hira. She nodded, allowing Ming to help her dress. The gown was cut into halves, one for the upper body and the other for the skirt. Embroidered were gemstones of rubies and emeralds, paired with a shawl that rested on her head.

Linh hummed in agreement. "Matching jewels the colour of the sea would suit well with your complexion, Hira."

"Are you nervous?" Jade asked, setting the kohl and powder on the dressing table.

"No." Yes. "I am cautious, but eager to meet him."

"I hear he nearly lost the war against the Crabfeeder due to his stubbornness and ego."

Linh tutted, "You shouldn't put stock into gossip."

"But it's true, isn't it princess?" Jade argued.

Hira shrugged, "I've heard different accounts. With how far away Leng is to the west of the world, stories change and become exaggerated. He was crowned King of the Narrow Sea once he tore into the body of this Crabfeeder and left the heads of his men scattered on the Stepstones. He may have almost lost, but history will know him as the victor."

"It doesn't matter what the gossip-sayers say." Ming insisted, "What matters is being on our best behaviour. We are guests and we represent our mothers and family, but most of all our princess."

"Yes. Hira is our priority." Linh affirmed. "Nothing more, nothing less."

The Leng women spent the rest of morning preparing Hira to meet her sire.

[ x ]

Her mother was right. Daemon was handsome and his dragon a great beast.

Awe spreads across Hira's face as she stared up at Caraxes. The dragon was blood red in colour, huge and lean with a serpentine neck. The other dragon, far larger than Caraxes was bronze with green-blue highlights, which could only be Vhagar, Lady Laena's mount.

"By the Old Ones." Jade whispered in astonishment.

Hira couldn't help but agree.

Pentos was just as hot as Leng and no less busy. Once they docked in the port, Hira's household travelled to Daemon's current place of residence, the manse of the Prince of Pentos, Prince Reggio. Her accounts mentioned that Daemon and his family were travellers of sorts, moving from one place to another. They presided just outside the city of Pentos.

A seed of jealousy ran through Hira as she watched the dragons fly in the sky.

Dragonrider you are not, her mind whispered cruelly. But her heart yearned for it. Never before had the thought of mounting a dragon and flying the skies from land to sea to land again entered her mind, but upon seeing them in the flesh she wanted nothing more.

In front of Hira stood her father, Lady wife and twin daughters.

"Prince Daemon of House Targaryen and his wife Lady Laena. Their daughters Ladies Baela and Rhaena." A herald called out.

Daemon's gaze steadied on Hira and she swallowed the doubt bubbling inside her. She steeled herself and met his gaze head on.

Shouta, one of her Sapphire Guards took a stand and yelled, "The Princess Hira of Leng, daughter of God-Empress Yhatia Han."

She curtsied, the silk robe pooling at her feet as she dipped low. The sapphire on her small crown shined brightly, the gem twinkling.

"Thank you for welcoming us to your home Prince Daemon, Lady Laena. Know that I am grateful you accepted my mother's plea to house me during Leng's current disposition."

It was Lady Laena who walked across and took Hira's hand, a smile donning her face. "What kind of mother would I be to ignore another mother's appeal? We're happy to have you here in our home and fortunate to finally meet Daemon's first born."

Her smile was like her mother's, sweet and gentle. Only time will tell if this honeyed smile will turn bitter.

"You've grown." Daemon stated.

"Have I? I heard you weren't present at my birth or any time after that, so how could you know?" 

The words fell from her mouth too fast for her to catch. She couldn't take them back, but the embarrassed blush appeared on her face anyway. She grit her teeth and prayed her mother would not be so disappointed that she was sent back to Leng due to her mouthy attitude.

Instead of reprimanded her, Lady Laena laughed. She looked between the two of them, father and daughter. One dark haired, the other silver. The only thing that held them together were their violet eyes and wit.

"I apologise, Princess Hira." Lady Laena answered to Hira's confused frown. "I mean no harm, only... well it's clear as night and day, you are your father's daughter. Same wit and frown line too."

Hira frown deepened and she scowled at the man before her.

His smirk widened, "Yes, I agree. You might look like Yhatia, but your sarcasm is mine."

An awkward silence settled between them.

"Let's move inside, shall we? Let your daughter and house members rest before the feast." Lady Laena insisted.

As they moved indoors, Hira could not help but steal another look at the dragons roaming the sky.

She might have her father's wit, but she was no dragonrider, not yet at least.