Laena's decision

Laenor POV

Laena, feeling the weight of all eyes upon her, requested time to contemplate the matter, as she had not yet decided which method to endorse. Mother hearing Laena's reply assured her to take all the time needed and to choose as she saw fit. Following this, mother resumed the heated debate with father about the sacrifices. She told father that her worry was not the act of sacrificing humans, as human life held little value in their world. Her concern lay not with the actions themselves, but with the potential fallout if they were exposed—how it could besmirch the reputation of her children and their house. She was aware that some Andal lords, swayed by the Faith, would not hesitate to exploit any opportunity to attack House Velaryon in a moment of weakness. A single misstep could jeopardize the future of House Velaryon.

As I watched my mother and father argue, Laena suddenly stood up. With determination in her eyes and a steady voice, she declared, "Though I am not fond of sacrificing others, you all know my desire to hatch my own dragon egg. Mother, you understand my love for dragons and the pride I take in our Valyrian heritage, including the customs of Old Valyria. And there was also this book that I recall stating that only death can pay for life. Therefore, I have no objections to using prisoners who have committed crimes as a sacrifice to hatch the egg. I'm sorry, Mother." With that, she resumed her seat and nodded towards my father.

Although Mother seemed slightly disappointed with the outcome, I could tell she had anticipated that Laena would prefer her dragon egg to hatch immediately rather than wait indefinitely. "If you all insist on this, I can do nothing but ensure that you fools don't botch this and land us in trouble with the Faith. Now, before we discuss anything further, decide on the location, as it is the most crucial aspect of this entire process. Corlys, do you have a place where we can be undisturbed and unobserved while we hatch the eggs?" Mother asked, her gaze intensifying as she looked at Father.

Father, after avoiding Mother's gaze, began to ponder where we could carry out the task unseen. "There are many secluded places, but why venture far when we could use the cells of the keep, where we house prisoners? I could send the guards away for a while. And if you desire another location, there is plenty of space that others typically avoid," Father replied. Mother seemed intrigued by the idea of using the cells, judging by her expression. As for me, if asked where I'd prefer to hatch the Dragon eggs, an open area would be my choice, yet the cells of the keep would suffice for privacy.

"Let's opt for the cells; in there, we won't have to worry about being seen by others. We can do everything there, right, Laenor?" Mother asked me, having made her decision, if it was feasible.

"Yes, we could conduct the entire event in the cells, but ensure that the cell is sufficiently large, as we will need space between ourselves and the fire which would be lighted for providing the heat source to the Dragon eggs" I explained to her, clarifying why a large cell was necessary. Father nodded at me, signalling his understanding and his intention to organize everything.

"So, when are we going to do it?" Laena asked, her tone brimming with excitement. She looked towards her mother and father for an answer.

"We should not rush in this situation, as haste leads to errors," Mother gently reprimanded Laena for her impatience. "We will proceed tomorrow, needing to act swiftly and silently. We won't descend into the cells together; instead, we'll go one at a time. After the eggs hatch, the dragons will remain with you two until they outgrow the keep's confines. That will take a long time, so you'll have ample opportunity to forge a deeper bond with them than anyone else," Mother explained with a soft smile. Laena beamed with joy, and I simply nodded to Mother, filled with gratitude.

"Let's proceed tomorrow after the midday meal," Father proposed, his face set in a stern expression. "It will afford me sufficient time to transfer some prisoners elsewhere, as their proximity to the cells might allow them to overhear our activities. Laenor, if there's anything you need prepared in advance, inform me now. It will be ready by the time you arrive, saving us time." I nodded, detailing the few necessities I required for the cells. Additionally, I planned to retrieve the block from the sea and entrust it to Father, ensuring its secure delivery to the cells for its intended use.

"Now that everything is done and decided, it's time for us to retire to our chambers and rest. We will need it for what tomorrow brings," said Mother as she stood up, prompting us all to rise. After exchanging goodnight wishes, we began to retire to our respective chambers, each of us filled with anticipation for the coming day.

*****

I swiftly entered the cell where my mother and Laena were already waiting, their attention fixed on the items set up with my father's help. In my hand was my dragon egg, which I carried over to the block set upon the stone altar. I placed the egg down and turned to Laena, who was observing everything with fascination and curiosity. The preparations were minimal, as little was needed—just a few simple ingredients, including dragonglass, essential for the ritual. After ensuring everything was in its place, I withdrew my Valyrian steel knife, ready to begin the work of carving runes.

I began with the outer circle which is made by Dragon glass blocks similar to those I've used before, but these blocks do not have a place for the Dragon eggs. I carved runes into it, designed to allow magic to flow freely and without constraint. Additionally, I included a rune for gathering magic, which would collect and store all the Blood magic available following the sacrifice of two humans. Subsequently, I inscribed numerous small runes and some clusters that would aid the hatching process, and nothing more. Once the outer circle of Dragon glass was complete, I shifted my focus to the stone altar, the final piece where I would carve the runes. After this, only a sacrifice would be necessary for the Dragons to hatch. My father also arrived while I was working on the outer circle.

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