Chapter 17

"I don't care what you think will make me happier, nor do I care what you think makes the most sense," Lysandra shouted, slamming the door shut behind her. Her chest heaved with fury, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her father had suggested marrying her off to some boy from House Elaerys, and the mere thought made her blood boil. She loved Kaelarys more than anything and would rather die than be wed to some boring, arrogant boy.

She didn't know what had gotten into her father lately to even consider something like this, but she won't have it. She had already considered jumping on her dragon and flying away from her problems but reconsidered it. This wouldn't change her problems, and it was not like her family didn't have the means to bring her back.

With magic, they would be able to find her, and with a dragonhorn, she would be unable to fight against them. Not like they would want to harm her.

In a fit of sudden rage, she picked up a finely made glass and threw it against the wall as it shattered into hundreds of pieces.

The door creaked open slowly, and her sister, Vaelaera, stepped inside. She took one look at Lysandra's flushed face and fiery eyes, and let out a low whistle. "You look angrier than a wild boar in a stampede," she remarked, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe.

Lysandra glared at her sister, her breath still coming in ragged bursts. "How can Father even think of such a thing? He knows how I feel about Kaelarys. I would rather throw myself off a cliff than marry that pompous fool from House Elaerys."

She and Vaelaera, more often than not, don't get along because of their different personalities. Her oldest sister was more ladylike than she would ever be, but that was okay with her. She didn't want to do her duty and be the proper daughter of Vaelor Baelaeron. She wanted to do what she wanted, whether they liked it or not.

She knew it was childish, but she couldn't help it. That was how she felt, and that was who she was.

Vaelaera raised an eyebrow, walking over to sit beside her on the bed. "Father was always truthful with us and that this is our duty for the House. But I get it, Lys. Kaelarys is different. He's special to you."

"Special?" Lysandra's voice trembled with emotion. "He's everything to me, Vaelaera. I can't imagine a life without him. And to think Father wants to throw me away to some conceited boy who only cares about his own reflection..."

Vaelaera placed a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder. "Calm down, Lys. He was only suggesting it. I don't think he realizes how much Kaelarys means to you. Not to mention, he is going to marry his sister. He just wanted you to have someone as well. He didn't mean to hurt you."

Lysandra scoffed." Is that so? Well, tell him this: If this boy comes even anywhere near me, I'm going to rip his arm off and shove his own arm so deep up his ass that he'll have a breath that smells like shit for the rest of his life.

Vaelaera blinked at that before bursting out laughing at her sister's words.

Lysandra blushed in embarrassment while her sister kept on laughing." What? It is the truth!!!"

Vaelaera wiped a tear from her eye, trying to catch her breath. "Oh, Lys, that was the most vivid threat I've ever heard! I can just imagine the poor boy's face when you tell him that."

Lysandra couldn't help but smile at her sister's reaction. "Well, maybe it'll keep him away. I really can't stand the thought of being with anyone other than Kaelarys."

She reached for the beautiful pendant Kaelarys had gifted her when he left for Valyria. Since his departure, Lysandra hadn't been feeling too good, and the emptiness in her heart was like a void that had refused to be filled. She missed the comfort of his presence, the sound of his laughter, and the warmth of his touch.

"It was a gift from him, right?" Her sister asked her curiously, eying the pendant.

"Yes," she answered." He gave it to me before he left. Said that he made it himself. I know that it isn't just pretty to look at, but it also has a use. One I didn't work yet."

"Well, he did learn blood magic from Aunt Valaena since he was little, and she was quite vocal about how much of a genius he is. So I guess he could have made the pedant and inscribed it with runes or something?" She shrugged her shoulders." But I honestly know next to nothing about Bloodmagic and have never studied it, so this is just a wild guess," she admitted.

Lysandra nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's just what I thought too. It's not like he would just give me a decorative item without a purpose, right? I mean, he'd make something practical and beautiful at the same time. But I couldn't see any difference with it."

Vaelaera raised an eyebrow. "You haven't tried to confirm if it is more than just a normal pendant, have you?"

Lysandra bit her lip, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks as she blushed in embarrassment. With everything happening around the House, she had indeed forgotten to do it. It was not like she didn't trust him, but it was just that she wanted to know what he had gifted her. The more she thought of it, the more the feeling grew. And her sister's words broke the last straw.

She dropped her gaze to her hands, twisting and turning the pendant between her fingers, feeling the weight of it. "You're right, Vaelaera. I should have checked it by now. I mean, I trust Kaelarys, but I want to know what he has given me."

Vaelaera nodded, understanding her sister's feelings. "I think you should check it. You know, for your own peace of mind. Just be cautious, though."

Lysandra looked up at her sister. "I will," she replied softly. 

Vaelaera smiled encouragingly. As Vaelaera turned to leave the room, Lysandra's voice, barely more than a whisper, stopped her. "Thank you, Vaelaera."

Vaelaera paused and turned back to her sister, a warm smile on her lips.

"Always"

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Kaelarys reclined against the plush pillows and enjoyed the slices of ripe, juicy oranges that Myranda was feeding him. The restaurant they were in was relatively quiet but popular, which in turn meant it was very expensive. Myranda nestled comfortably in his lap while he watched the sunset in the far distance. She wore a dress that barely hung around her shoulders, so loose over her breasts that everything but the tips were visible. There was also a long cut in her dress starting from the hips, exposing her legs for him to appreciate.

They were relaxing and enjoying their last day in Lys before their trip would take them further west. He still hadn't decided whether he wanted to visit Westeros first or if he wanted to visit the other Free Cities, but he had all the time in the world to decide, and whatever choice he made would do little to influence the bigger picture.

He had orchestrated everything he could so that soon the Ormollen family would be pushed off the little throne they had built. A few months after he was gone, Lady Marra would order the assassination of Selene Vhassyl.

House Vhassyl was the most militaristic noble family, and they often called themselves "the Protectors of Lys." He planned to start a feud between the different noble houses to weaken their hold over the city. Of course, they wouldn't be able to take the fighting too far, as Valyria would interfere before this happened, but it would be enough to weaken House Ormollen and allow House Nahor to take over with a little bit of help from his side.

He had made sure to plant enough evidence that House Ormollen was responsible for the murder. While anyone smart enough would see that they weren't the real culprits behind the assassination, the trust between Houses Ormollen and Vhassyl would be heavily damaged, at the very least. Enough for him and Lady Marra to work around and achieve their goals.

Myranda shifted slightly to get more comfortable, her fingers gently brushing Kaelarys's lips as she fed him another orange slice and sent him a flirtatious look. 

She really had grown on him. 

Noticing the look in his eyes, she stopped peeling the orange in her hand and asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"

"Our next destination," he admitted." Among other things. I have already told you that I want to visit the Wall and the North, but I don't know if I should go there first. There is so much more to discover on the way, and I don't know if I am rushing things."

"And why is that?" she returned." As far as I can see, you are very much interested in the North. You can visit other places whenever you want; nobody will stop you. In my humble opinion, your heart already knows where to go to."

Sometimes, he fails to see that she is way smarter than she lets on. But that may be because of her former profession. With this, their next destination was already set in stone.

And she was right; the North interested him much more than any other region, except maybe Yi Ti and their magnificent cities, which house millions and are said to be tens of thousands of years old.

The North, on the other hand, is the most magically inclined Kingdom in Westeros and is the Kingdom ruled by House Stark, the most honorable House there probably is. Having a friendly relationship with them won't hurt as he knows that House Stark won't ever break a vow and stand with their friends. Something that he can't expect from nearly anyone else in this world.

"You are right," he confessed as the hand with which he held her moved from her calves higher up to her chest, giving it a gentle squeeze. She moaned lightly in response," It's a good thing I have a sexy tour guide to show me the way around." 

She laughed and leaned closer." Very luck indeed."

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