DRAGONSTONE 

It was important that a Han Princess greeted the fleet over a Targaryen one, so Hira dressed herself in teals and blues. The ao dai she wore had gold beading that formed vines and branches along the sleeves and cuffs, paired with white trousers and a small sapphire jewelled crown.

It would do them good to remember she was her mother's daughter, that she was still one of theirs.

The sails of Han flew high and ships upon ships were sighted across the horizon. Seeing the standard of a tree laden heavy with rubies and emeralds brought a smile to Hira's face. It was a taste of home.

Her Sapphire Guards and ladies positioned themselves behind her, dressed to immaculate perfection as per her orders. The royal family stood beside them in red and black, with Rhaenyra and Daemon in the centre and their children surrounding them.

Jace stepped into place next to Hira, freshly washed, his hair still damp. She fixed the lapel of his doublet, smoothing the material. It took a while for Hira to notice the blue embellishments that decorated the prince's attire.

She raised her brow. "You're wearing blue?"

It was an unusual sight. By default Jace wore a mix of red and black, oftentimes matching and colour coordinating with Luke.

"Is it not the duty of a betrothed to support one's intended?" He answered cheekily. He grabbed the hand on his collar, giving it a quick squeeze.

Hira's nerves lessened. She squeezed back Jace's hand and gave a smile that expressed her gratitude. When the first ship docked the ports, Hira relaxed her stance and an easy smile came onto her lips.

Mehmed was the first to disembark the Emerald Tiger, followed by a contingent of soras. His stride was long and self-assured, wearing Yhatia's colours proudly. His hair had greyed, yet remained long and curled at the ends. Two kampilans were tied at his waist, the single-edged sword passed down from his father and his father before him. When he stopped in front of Hira he gave a low, perfect forty-five degree bow, one that would please the grannies and ancestors back home. The soras, dressed in yellow and red, saluted their princess. Their bodies painted in black ink, armed with blades, spears and kalis.

"Dragonstone welcomes you, Datu Mehmed." Hira greeted in Lengii, extending her hand for the general to kiss. He pressed his lips against the sapphire engraved ring that adorned her right hand, one that signified her status as a royal Han.

"You were shorter when I last saw you." He grunted.

"You were thinner." She replied.

"Yhatia should've married you to a Lengii son, not this halfwit Valyrian sod. Diluting Han with foreign blood is a crime against tradition."

Hira narrowed her eyes. "Direct your complaints to the God-Empress, for she is the only one who cares to hear your yapping."

"Move, move! Out of my way!" A familiar shrill voice broke through.

Hira gasped, ignoring Mehmed altogether in favour of the woman who sauntered her way past the warriors. Lady Sunniva, the Babaylan, was a sight for sore eyes. A revered woman, second to her mother in the state hierarchy. To be a Babaylan was to be a mystical healer whose spiritual connectedness was a source of political and social power across Leng and Yi Ti. Once, she dreamt of joining the clan of Babaylans, yet the Old Ones never called for her and that dream became a wishful memory.

Breaking protocol, Ming raced to the front and fell into her mother's arms. Hira beamed at their reunion. She had not known her aunt by marriage would also join the contingent, it was a lovely and welcome surprise to see her again and have her near. It felt like her own mother was here, with how similar Yhatia and Sunniva acted. Sisters at heart, blood through marriage.

"Look how you've blossomed, my spider lily." Her aunt mumbled into Ming's hair. "You've done me proud."

The part of Hira that ached for her mother's love felt green at the sight, but she pushed that feeling away, shoving it down.

Sunniva turned to Hira, her amber eyes piercing and sharp. "Let me look at you, my princess."

She held her face in a calloused palm, staring deep into Hira's violet ones. "Yhatia's daughter through and through. I hear your taste align with your mother's. What is this one-eye dragon I've been hearing about?"

"Heard that through the grapevine, did you?" She teased, knowing nothing is kept secret between mothers and daughters.

Sunniva hits Hira's leg with the bamboo cane in retaliation. Hira yelped, smoothing her ailing leg.

"Where is your intended?"

Hira held her hand out to Jace, who took it with grace. She chuckled when Sunniva grabbed Jace's face and inspected it like one would inspect a warship or a zorse for value. She turned his head left and right, humming in appreciation.

"Handsome face." Sunniva nodded. "Short but good build for making babies. The children will be most beautiful."

Jace turned scarlet at the improper words. She quickly led her aunt and Mehmed to her Targaryen family, lest she embarrass them further.

"This is Princess Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne. Her sons Princes Lucerys and Joffrey Velaryon. Her husband and my father Prince Daemon and their sons Princes Viserys and Aegon. Lastly, Daemon's daughter Lady Rhaena Targaryen."

She gestured to her Han side. "Datu Mehmed, my mother's Yi Ti husband-consort and the General of Leng's royal fleet. My aunt by marriage, Lady Sunniva, the wife of my mother's youngest brother."

"Be welcome. It's a true pleasure to accept Hira's family into our home, she's told us many stories." Rhaenyra greeted.

"All scandalous I presume." Sunniva said. "That girl has a large mouth on her."

"I learned the best from you, aunt."

As Ming took her mother to her apartments, Hira oversaw the rest of the Lengii party, making sure they were well accounted for in the outpost and the fleet docked securely. It was odd to see so many of her sun kissed kin in Dragonstone, bringing forth a blossom of tranquillity in her. When she closed her eyes, she imagined herself in Turrani, the Last City of Leng, where she grew up most of her life. The breeze in the air, the rush of the water, the songs of her people flowing through her ears.

It was only when Jace spoke, that the mirage shattered.

"If your mother is anything like your aunt, I fear for my well-being."

Hira smirked. "Cut from the same cloth, they are. But worry not, dear betrothed, my mother adores you for your title alone."

"That only increases my worry."

[ x ]

Her Han relatives settled into their new home of Dragonstone fairly well, almost two weeks ago. Those who dwelled in Dragonstone were few compared to the capital, but they were friendlier than those in the Red Keep. The first night a feast was held, with tables filled with Lengii cuisine and rice-brewed wines. A ceremonial dance occurred for the royal family of Dragonstone, to thank them for their generosity and the upcoming nuptials of Jace and Hira's wedding which was to occur in nine moons time.

The tinikling involved two people tapping and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in a smooth, rhythmic coordination whilst two dancers stepped over and in between the poles in a dance. When the main performance ended, Hira grabbed Rhaena's hand and influenced her to give it a go, directing the girl's feet and clapping along to the drums. Jace got drunk off of tapuey after a dare from Luke, not realising that the wine was a higher percentage of alcohol than what he was used to. Daemon butted heads with Mehmed whilst Sunniva charmed Rhaenyra, the two growing a sisterhood of sorts. 

Mehmed found her adequate enough to spearhead the Lengii army and departed just yesterday morning on the Emerald Tiger. Most likely developed hives from being so far from his wife. His devolution, almost sweet if not for his callous attitude against Daemon, still woe over what transpired between her mother and father twenty years ago. He left the fleet to be commanded by his lieutenant Krita, a person of Yi Ti descent with excellent seafaring legs and naval warfare.

Sunniva stayed, planning to leave in two moons, for she missed her daughter dearly and enjoyed the princess of Dragonstone's company. Hira knew it was also to keep a close eye on her, recalling their conversation the day of her arrival.

"How is my mother?"

"Disappointed." Sunniva tutted. "First, a failed betrothal. Then she hears you've been banishment."

"What was I to do, Sunniva? They murdered Jin, was I to let bygones be bygones?"

"You should've been smarter, your mother raised you to be. For all your wits, you should've forseen the outcome ." She grasped her face, forcing Hira to gaze down at her molten amber eyes. For a Lengii woman, Sunniva was quite short. "You were not caught, but innocent? Far from. You are a child no longer, Hira. Every step you take, every move against your foes must be strategic, or you'll lose more than just your Sapphire Guard. I will not risk my daughter in your games, or your silly little fancies. Wed the boy, else it will be your downfall."

Sunniva's words of warning were a bucket of cold water over her head, affirming Hira of the decisions she's made.

[ x ]

"The Yi Ti invaders, who landed north of the land, settled in the island known for its gems and exotic spices." Hira spoke softly to Joffrey, Aegon and Viserys. They sat on a blanket in the main hall, next to the Painted Table which was covered in scrolls. Over the story of Nassari the Beloved, Jace could be heard practising Valyrian with the maester.

She's grown to love these boys as her own, taking them under her wing and treasuring them the way one does with their valued hoard. 

"The Yi Ti settlers fought against the Lengii, following their leader Kunal the Wrath. He pillaged the island, stole the jewels and harvest and made himself king on the northern Leng Yi. Nassari was angered by this and led an army against Kunal, and a war commenced that lasted two long years. Eventually the Yi Ti and Lengii found common cause and the war ended before summer began."

"How did Nassari defeat Kunal?" Aegon demanded.

"She didn't. She loved him instead."

The doors of the hall opened, revealing Rhaenyra. She smiled at the children and Hira, before addressing Jace.

"Perhaps that's enough for this morning."

All morning Jace had been perfecting his Valryian with the help of the maester and Hira. Languages came easy to her, having been taught foreign words at a young age. She knew fluently Westerosi, Lengii, YiTish and to an extent Moraqi, for the trade deals the empire had with Yi Ti. At Daemon's knee she perfected her High Valyrian.

"A king should honour the traditions of his forebears." Jace argued.

"Well, unless you're planning to depose your own mother, you have plenty of time to study."

"It's alright, Jace." She pipped, smirking. "Not everyone can be a master at languages. You'll get there sooner than late."

Jace threw a half-hearted glare. "I'll hear nothing from you. You still confuse your High Valyrian with the bastardised version."

"Only to annoy Daemon." She answered.

And speak of the demon, he shall appear. The sternness of Daemon's face caused Hira to sit up. Rhaenyra saw the same expression and excused everyone. Hira plucked Viserys off the floor, cradled him on her hip and grabbed Aegon's hand. Jace collected Joffrey and they departed the room. Hira passed a questioning look to Daemon, to which he nodded.

"Something bad is afoot." She mumbled to Jace.

They dropped the youngest boys at the nursery with their nanny and Joffrey ran off to find Luke, leaving Hira and Jace to wander the beach.

"I hear our wedding will host three ceremonies?" Jace asked, her hand tucked into the crook of his arm.

"My mother is adamant on a Lengii ceremony. Sunniva suggests when the moon is at its fullest and the stars at its brightest, that way the Old Ones will bless the union."

Daemon was hellbent on a Valyrian wedding to honour the ancestors and Rhaenyra argued that their marriage needed to be witnessed under the Faith of the Seven. An agreement was formed, when Hira suggested they host all three during consecutive days.

Jace nodded, "I know what happens during a Velyrian wedding, and the Faith, but what of Lengii?"

A mental tick box appeared in Hira's mind. "There are vows that must be said in front of a witness. During the ceremony, a lace veil is draped over the bride's head and the groom's shoulder to symbolise being clothed as one. A ceremonial cord called a yugal is then wrapped around the couple in a figure eight, symbolising an eternal bond of fidelity. The ceremony ends with the pangalay dance."

He made a face.

"It's a fairly easy dance." She assured him. "And there's still plenty of time to practise. Although, gods save us, your two left feet will be most troublesome."

Hira chuckled when Jace shoved her to the side, scowling.

"Peace, Jace. You'll do brilliantly."

"It's not my dancing I'm afraid of." He mumbled.

Hira forgets that insecurity was a trait common in the prince. Moments such as these remind her that he was just as anxious as herself, to truly make this work, not for themselves but for their duty to their families, to their beloved mothers. As the eldest son there were always these expectations and standards so high that were sometimes unfairly unreachable. Especially with the rumours that clouded his lineage. Jace had something to prove. Which is why he trained so hard, why he willed himself to perfect his Valyrian, why he must prove himself to be as every bit of a Targaryen as he was a Velaryon.

She squeezed his hand, "When we marry, we'll carry each other's burdens. I will happily carry yours, if you do the same for mine. You're not alone, Jace."

It was easy to talk to him about their upcoming marriage. It was easy to hold his hand and tell him sweet words she meant from the bottom of her heart. It was easy to love Jace, not yet and not right now, but given time, given distance from Aemond, then mayhaps she'll be free of him. Free to love Jace the way a wife loved her husband. Loyally and true.

Later, Hira learned that Vaemond Velaryon had challenged Luke's legitimacy and by extension her betrothed. The succession of Driftmark was put into question, with the Sea Snake mortally wounded in his exploits of the Stepstones. They were to travel to King's Landing to defend Luke's claim to the Driftwood Throne.

Two years since she stepped foot in the capital, her banishment still fresh in her mind. Two years since she saw Aemond in the flesh, rather than in her dreams.

It was supposed to be easy, to be loyal to Jace when Aemond was only a ghost. But even ghosts have their way of haunting.