Dinner with the Velaryons

"This looks so weird, but tastes so good," Aerys complimented.

"The Bridgebottoms are a delicacy on our island," Princess Rhaenys explained as she took large bites from her own plate. "The legends say that these creatures descend from the Merling King himself."

"Well, they certainly taste divine." He agreed. The sea creature had looked slimy, but biting into it was like biting into a fruit. It was weirdly sweet and just as juicy. He made no effort to maintain cleanliness as the juices flowed down his chin and down his hands. In Westeros, eating messily was considered a type of compliment towards the host. His father nodded in approval at his good manners. But not everyone could appreciate the tradition. To the side, he could see Rhaena and Baela looking queasily at the messy affair from the Essosi-raised perspectives.

The dinner was just supposed to be a small affair between Viserys and Corlys. But when they learned that Aerys would be joining them, Rhaenys had for some reason decided to join them and brought her granddaughters as well.

Aerys picked up one of the slimy-looking creatures in each hand and turned to the sisters.

"I think I like the meaty ones more than the juicy ones," he said, pressing them both for show, letting the juices flow. "The meaty ones have less juice, but when you bite into them, it feels like the meat is melting in your mouth. Which ones do you like?"

"Ah, I like that one as well," Rhaena replied. Baela looked at her sister in betrayal, which made Rhaena add a, "I suppose."

He laughed. "I am sure you can become certain now that you are back home and free to eat all the food that our families have grown up eating."

"There will be plenty of time for it," Corlys assured, while Viserys smiled, too tired from the day's proceedings to have much of an appetite.

"Unless Uncle Daemon intends to take you back to Pentos."

The remark made the girls look to their grandparents in uncertainty.

"Their place is with their family," Rhaenys answered sternly. "They will not spend another moment in a foreign land."

"And they are always welcome in King's Landing, with the rest of their family," Viserys chimed in.

"As it should be," he agreed and took another bite, indicating an end to the topic. Then asked the girls, "So where is Uncle Daemon anyway?"

"I know not," Rhaena answered.

"We were supposed to dine with him tonight. But he never returned from the function," Baela added. "Then we were told to go to Uncle Laenor. But he was asleep."

Yikes. Aerys tried to recall, and the last he remembered seeing him was with Rhaenyra. Something to keep in mind.

"Perhaps he's gone to clear his head on Caraxes," he assuaged. "And on that topic, has Lady Rhaena decided on which dragon to bond to?"

"Dragon?" She sounded surprised.

"Yes. It's really more common to bond to a grown one than to have an egg hatch. And there are plenty on Dragonstone. One even right here."

"Vhagar," she whispered.

"I think it'd be only appropriate that you, of all Targaryens, be her next rider."

"Can I, grandfather?" She asked Corlys.

"Of course—" he almost assented.

"Perhaps in due time," Rhaenys interrupted her husband, and the two had a heated stare-off.

"Yes, of course," Corlys relented. "Your mother was almost 15 when she bonded to Vhagar. There's plenty of time for you to bond to a dragon."

A shame, Aerys thought. He had hoped to turn this into a competition between Rhaena and Aemond. Lead them both out and let them fight it out. Maybe give them both daggers. The first one to cut the other's eye gets Vhagar? Whatever. There'd be plenty of blood soon enough.

They spent some more time eating and talking, and Aerys entertained the girls with stories of his forays into the city.

"Look at this, Corlys. Our families getting along. Eating and laughing together," Viserys spoke. Then turned to Rhaenys. "Just like our fathers used to."

"Are you leading up to something, cousin?"

"I wish to leave Aerys here. As your squire, Lord Corlys. If you'd agree to it."

The Lord of the Tides exchanged glances with the Queen Who Never Was. Having entire conversations as the two glanced at the children interacting merrily.

"You honor us, your grace," Corlys finally replied.