Special dedication to NaraAzara

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The Smoking Sea 119 AC

Niliana was soaring over the open, smoky seas. Little Meriahyna was cooing softly in the dragon's arms, glancing up at the clouds above her.

The dragon continued to soar through the skies until she noticed the familiar temple below. Swooping down, it ventured towards the temple; a beautiful sea goddess awaited them on the sandy shore below. The dragon gently landed on the sandy beach, and the Goddess approached them with a smile.

'' I knew I could count on you, girl.'' The Goddess said, petting the dragon softly on its forehead.

Nilana purred under the Goddess's touch. '' Lusine, I brought the human baby as you requested.''

Lusine took the child from the dragon's arms, cradling her gently. Meriahyna gazed up at the Goddess with curious eyes and reached to touch her. The Goddess smiled down at the infant, laying a hand on her chubby cheek and stroking it gently.

'' You have done well, Niliana.'' The Goddess said to the dragon

Niliana bowed her head. '' Are you sure she's the one?'' She asked.

'' Yes, I have no doubt.'' The Goddess answered.

Turning around, Lusine rocked the baby in her arms, opening the water barrier that protected her abode from the outside world.

Four water nymphs greeted her, each doing a perfect curtsy before laying eyes on the baby.

"Dearest Meriahyna, meet my familiars — Freyja of the North, Rana of the South, Circe of the West, and Niloufar of the East"

Each nymph waved at the little one as their names were called. Niloufar took the extra mile, conjuring a lotus out of thin air, and placed it on the child's wrap.

"Lady Lusine approves of you, dragonette."

Meriahyna simply smiled, liking the new, shiny brooch on her clothes.

"Come, My Lady, shall we converse?", beckoned Circe, who started to lead everyone into the complex.

The Temple of Naerea had once been a gander palace, made of white marble and adorned with tapestries from what is now known as Myr, gold artifacts from Qohor, and bluish green gems from the rich seafloor. Back then, her virgin priestesses were tasked with being treated as her mortal ladies-in-waiting and some of the luckier ones got to be her messengers.

Lusine recalled being a mortal once, herself a priestess to another sea goddess, whom she succeeded after her ascension. Sadly, that lady's name had been lost to public knowledge, only present in the obscure records from the Shadowlands and of course, her memories.

"I still wonder why you didn't name this building after yourself?", Niloufar, who seemed to be the youngest of the nymphs, inquired.

"This place held too many precious memories of my predecessor for me to rename it. Besides, isn't "Naerea" an elegant name?"

The six stopped by an altar, or more accurately, a giant fountain bearing the statue of a robed woman holding a sword, the water spouting from its hilt.

"Lady Naerea,may she rest in peace — was the sea goddess before my ascension. She was also the patron of mothers and newborn children. I am merely continuing what she's done."

" What's so special about this baby anyway, my Lady?." Rana asked.

" She's just another Valyrian descendent of the fourteen Flames." Circe said.

"She is my human avatar.", replied Lusine. "She just happened to bear my mortal name; Meriahyna means "Light of the Ocean ''.

" Really?" They asked, their eyes widened in surprise.

Niloufar chuckled. "Names have power everywhere; in my place, the water lily was a sacred object. The same idea applies to this little sea dragon here."

" Will you take the child in as your own, your Grace, as your successor?." Circe questioned.

Freyja flicked Circe's forehead for that, while giving her a stern look.

Lusine gazed down at the little infant. " I wish I could, but she is destined for greatness." Besides, she has a family so it would be cruel of me to take her away from it."

"Bah! You mean Rhaenyra? I think it's a gentler fate.", Rana grumbled.

" I'm sure the Dragon Princess is a fine mother." The Goddess said. "I have heard how gentle and kind she is with her son Prince Jacaerys."

"Are you sure?", Niloufar questioned,her eyes gazing downwards.

"Uh-oh...", Rana whispered, her eyes spotted a small bruise on the little infant's hand.

" Someone's hurt her." The nymph cried out.

"Dear oh dear, who could it be?", Freyja mumbled.

" That damn spoiled Princess." Niloufar hissed. " I heard she tried to name the girl "Maegora", humph!"

Gasps ranged out among the nymphs. " What kind of woman would name her child after the cruel king!?"

Lusina lowered her gaze to the young Princess, grabbing her small hand and saw her hand was swollen. Meriahnya let out a cry, trying to pull away from the Goddess touch.

" Poor child." She whispered, placing her hand over the infant's small hand healing her wound.

" You should keep her as your own, your Grace." Freyja suggested. " The girl won't get the love and affection she needs from her mother."

"She still. has a father." Rana argued. "i think Laenor has suffered enough under the hand of his scheeming wife."

The Goddess agreed. " Yes, the Sea Prince has suffered too much, I won't take his daughter away from him."

" Instead, I shall bless his daughter with the gifs of the sea."

Dragging everyone into position, the four nymphs stood in their respective directions; Freyja to the north, behind the statue of the woman, Rana directly across from her, Niloufar in front of the window where the sun could be seen rising from the horizon, and Rana across from her. Together, they held hands, as a gentle glow filled the chambers, forming a barrier made of water.

" I grant the young Princess the power to communicate and understand animals." Freyja declared.

"I gift to you, the Siren's Call — come forth, Muse of the Sea, your voice, enchant the world above.", chanted Niloufar.

"Let the waters of life flow through your veins, the power of metamorphosis shall be yours to keep, dragon's scales and a swimmer's speed,you shall never be caught by the enemy.", Rana continued.

"The Healers shall bow, and plagues shall vanish, o Heart of Recuperation." Circe finished, her hands holding a bottle, and spilling its contents onto the infant's little hands.

" With these gifts, the young Sea Dragon will be able to travel between both worlds. And, if she ever needs our guidance she will know where to find us." Lusina explained. "I shall begin to keep her for half a year, the moment she becomes a young woman; the other half, she stays on land."

The four nymphs nodded, and quickly dismantled their barrier.

"So..."

"So?"

"Who's telling Rhaenyra?"

No response came from Rana's question.

Lusina chuckled. " She'll find out one day."

Her familiars sported mischievous smiles, and combined their powers. They were telling someone in advance, and it would never be Rhaenyra.

Little Meriahyna was lifted into the air as the nymph's magic began to flow in her veins. She closed her eyes for a moment, before opening it again, sea green eyes stared back at them.

" It is done."

The nymphs withdrew their powers from the little infant allowing her back on the ground. Lusina took the young Princess in her arms, gazing at her deeply.

" Greatness is in stores for you, little one." She whispered. " Use your gifts wisely, be calm as a sea and good things shall come your way."

A loud screech erupted into the air, Niliana came swooping down in front of her Lady, spreading her sea green wings out loudly.

" Take her home, Niliana." The Goddess ordered, gazing at the Dragon. " You belong to her now."

For a moment, Meriahyna did not wish to let go.

"You'll be alright; your auntie Niloufar will send you presents~"

The other nymphs nodded, echoing the same sentiments. This lifted the child's mood, and smiled.

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Laenor and Rhaenys landed in the dragon pit of the Red Keep after another search, poor Laenor not being able to hold back his anguished tears.

" I can't believe she's gone." Laenor cried out. " I don't understand, I did everything right .Why am I being punished by the Gods?"

" Maybe, I am being punished for being the way I am? Because I'm a sword-swallower?"

Rhaenys laid a comforting hand on her son's shoulders. "She will return to us, my boy. And no, I believe the gods accept sword-swallowers as people too."

" Still haven't found the Princess yet." A snippy voice said.

They turned around and saw Otto Hightower standing before them.

" No, sadly we haven't." Rhaenys answered.

Otto signed. " What a shame, I am sorry for your loss Prince Laenor."

" She's not dead!" Laenor yelled, his eyes widened in anger.

"Lord Hightower, if you hsve nothing but malice to say about my granddaughter, then please shut the **** up!", Rhaenys snapped.

" I only speak the truth, Princess Rhaenys. The Hightower said. " A dragon the size of Balerion is not to malicious return the Princess, it probably ate her for all we know or burnt her.

" No matter, Prince Laenor is still young and fertile; he can have plenty of children." He added. " Trueborn children at that, if he can do his duty."

" How dare you-"

A loud screech filled the air, making the trio stop arguing. Laenor immediately ran out of the pit, surprised to find the very same dragon clutching his daughter with great care.

"Haha... hahahahahahaha! She's back! My little Mei is back!"

" By the gods." Rhaenys said, running after her son."

Niliana tilts her head up at the Sea Prince, opening her claws out widely towards him, passing his daughter to him.Laenor clutched onto his daughter tightly, holding her against her chest, tears sliding down his face. " Meri, my little Sea Princess."

Little Meriahyna let out a giggle, lifting her hand to her father's cheek. Laenor leaned into his daughter's touch, happy to have her back.

" By the Seven, where did this dragon come from?" Otto wondered.

The dragon was enormous, its wings spreading out covering half of the dragon pit. It was bigger than Balerion the Dread and even Vhagar, Queen of the skies themselves. Nilanna was a beautiful sight; a creature seemingly forged out of pure aquamarine with her glistening scales and wings that emitted an ethereal glow even in the morning sun.

And, it had bonded with the young Princess; Princess Rhanerya had the largest dragon at her disposal. Taking the iron Throne for her wouldn't be a piece of cake, he knew it had become an uphill battle the moment her father" betrayed" her by marrying Alicent, and worse still when she had her daughter with Laenor.

That beast would be able to tear apart all of the dragons in that pit. His grandchildren's dragons would have no chance at taking it down.

Otto turned to the young Princess in pride and concern, she would be a problem for them when she grew up. Hmmm, what if Aemond wed her? We can turn her against that spoiled brat of her mother — no, maybe one of the bannerman would do ? I've got to make plans...

And then, he noticed her eyes.

F*CK!

Little Meriahyna looked over her father's shoulders at the old man and smirked, flashing her glowing sea green eyes. The Sea Dragon had awakened.

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