Chapter 15.4- The Seadragon's Roar

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“You’re welcome” Laena said about ten minutes later, walking into town with the man in front of her loon like he had seen hell itself.

“I didn’t say thank you” I pointed out. We had o fix that roof, and it wasn’t like we had an abundance of laborers to work with. Still I signaled for the man to be taken into custody and he was.

“Then I guess we should revisit your education on manners”

“What would you know about manners?” I snorted. This girl who terrified and terrorized the Septa sent to teach her when we were younger presumed she could lecture me. Me!

“More than the man hesitating to thank the woman who saved his life for sure” I scoffed in reply. Did she really think that was what happened.

“I was out of his line of fire. All I had to do was stealthily raise the alarm and we would have arrested him in no time” It was her turn to scoff. She turned away and began to leave.

“Okay okay, I won’t thank you for this, but there is something else that you could do for me that I will thank you for” I called after her. She stopped in her tracks, spinning about to pin me with a look.

“What does little Laeny want?” She asked almost instantly, clearly intrigued.

“I want you to come see Father with me. He’s awake now, he’s speaking, but he won’t have long” I saw the way her expression closed off the second I brought it up. Both she and Rhaenys had inherited that Baratheon stubbornness that meant they did not like to capitulate. Surrender, or be proven wrong under any circumstances.

“I already said no. I told Mother this as well. I don’t know if she thinks she can just…”

“Laeana” I cut into her rant.

“Mother doesn’t even know that I am speaking with you now. She’s with father, she’s devastated, and I can’t comfort her. I know you can. I’m not asking this because I feel I know better than you do about how you feel and so am dictating how you spend your last moments with your Father. I’m asking this because I am a son who sees his mother in pain and is trying to do something about it” She shifted from one foot to the other, looking like she wanted to agree but there was still something holding her back.

“Please sister” I tried one last time, and that did the trick. She let out a breath and then took a step closer to me instead of away from me.

“You owe me one, Laeny” She said, walking over and punching me in the shoulder.

“I’ll owe you a million if that’s what it takes Sister” I said, taking her hand in mine. Partly for the comfort it offered, mbut mostly to make sure she could not change her mind.