Chapter 15.6- The Seadragon's Roar

It made sense to some extent. Making her even more attractive meant she would have no shortage of suitors and it was up to us to pick the best one rather than Corlys seeking a marriage since he would not be around for that anymore. Should I have felt bad that he didn’t necessarily trust me to find Laena a good husband? Nope, there was no chance I’d have trusted myself with that either. Wasn’t even certain I was comfortable with her getting married at all? Who is to say that she wouldn’t die in childbirth either way, regardless of who the father was? With that kind of risk, did I even want her getting married to anyone?

“To my younger brother, Vaemond, I first of all leave my thanks for his years of loyal service. To find a true friend is a rare thing. To find a competent servant is another. To find both in a brother is a treasure beyond words. I leave you your ship, the Seahorse’s Wrath, as well as five others from the Shipyard. I also leave ten thousand dragons for your upkeep, and two thousand to each of your children. I leave the same for all of Aurion’s children as well” The fact that he hadn’t bothered calling them by name was something I found slightly funny. I struggled to remember all their names to be honest. I knew Vaemond because he was named after his father, and Rhogar because his sounded similar to Rhaegar but for the rest, I’d honestly just forgotten. Corlys was probably more or less the same.

“And finally to my Son and heir, Laenor. You have made me proud beyond my wildest dreams. In you I have found a worthy heir and I die a happy man knowing that House Velaryon will continue to thrive and advance to greater and greater heights. I leave you your inheritance in full, apart from what I have explicitly spelled out earlier….” He stopped to cough before continuing immediately, waving away Laena’s attempt to ply him with water.

“Until you come into your majority, the regency will be handled by your mother and my wife, Rhaenys—“

“Brother” Vaemond interrupted, stepping forwards. He was the first to dare interrupt Corlys as he laid out his last wishes.

“I must oppose this. House Velaryon should be ruled by a Velaryon. One who has the sea in their blood. One that the sailors and captains will listen to when the time comes. Do not forget that we are at war and war is no place for women. The men must see strong leadership in front of them”

“And you would want what instead? For me to pick you?” Corlys began laughing and that laugh quickly turned to series of coughs as he planted his hand against his bound wound.

“Don’t agitate it, Corlys” Mother scolded.

“I’m dying either way, my love” He said, giving her a smile that she did not share.

“Back to you Vaemond, you are my brother, but you are no leader. My choice is made, and my choice is final” He said, coughing some more. Now Laena did not allow him refuse her offered water.

“Leave me with my children and wife now” he ordered, after a long drink.

The room emptied leaving the four of us alone. Even the Maester had left.

“Come Laenor” I took a few steps closer to him and knelt by his side. His hand came to me.

“I regret sending you away. I anticipated having years upon years to teach and prepare you. We will have none of that. Just as I took the throne of Driftmark in my youth, you will do the same. Except that I will be leaving you a house at the peak of its strength. Make us stronger, Laenor. Rule the waves”

That was the last we spoke about matters of inheritance or succession. We spent the rest of the time trading stories. I told them what I could about my time in the stormlands and they traded with stories from Driftmark and what was happening. We spoke long into the night and slowly but surely, Corlys spoke less and less. Each word took more out of him, and before the hour of the wolf, Corlys Velaryon, the First, the Seasnake, Master of Driftmark and Lord of the Tides breathed his last.