Chapter 15: Blood is thicker than Water

Sixth Moon, 88 AC

Viserra

"Alys dear, have you been settling in well?" Irina asked. She took a sip of her tea as she let Alys consider the question. The three of them were having their luncheon together today, a private meal Irina had invited her goodsisters to.

They would be eating a light meal of more simply flavored (though no less delicious) chicken and some rice and garlic-fried vegetables to accompany it. High Tide's residents, Viserra had found, were quite obsessed with rice. Many insisted it was the best grain to eat as staple with all the exotic dishes that had become commonplace on the island due to its spice trade. They said it best absorbed and complimented their flavors.

"Well enough I suppose. Driftmark is… it's very different from Gulltown," Alys answered.

'I can relate to that,' Viserra thought. Driftmark would certainly be different from anything Alys would have expected. The island, its people, and the house that ruled it all alike.

"But do you like it here?" Viserra questioned as their lunch arrived. She hoped she wouldn't feel any nausea eating it. It had been plaguing her mornings for some days already, much to her annoyance.

"I suppose I do. We're not too far from Gulltown if I ever get homesick, and Driftmark and High Tide both beautiful and wondrous, like out of a song or fairy tale. The beaches are exquisite, the city exciting, and the castle like a luxurious palace. And there's so much to learn and explore. So many new ideas and inventions to fascinate yourself with, it can feel overwhelming at times."

"Don't worry Alys," Irina reassured. "I was much the same when I first came to Driftmark. It took me time, but I adapted. You will too. And I agree, there's something special about Driftmark and everything that can be found on it, but it can be very overwhelming when you first see it all. I was lucky to have Rhaekar to guide me through it."

"Aurane has done similarly, when he has had the time," Alys said with a smile that did not wholly reach her eyes.

"And how have things been going with Aurane? Well?" Viserra asked, interested to hear of how her goodsister and goodbrother were getting along. She knew Aurane least of the Velaryon brothers.

"Well I guess. He's a perfect gentleman when we meet, but I cannot help but feel ignored at times. I understand he's one of Lord Corlys's trusted advisors and lieutenants, and with much to do, but I can't help but feel a little lonely."

"I could speak to him about that if you wish," Irina offered.

"No, it's only my own selfishness. I know he's very busy. I wouldn't want to be a bother to him," Alys rejected worriedly.

Viserra frowned. It was hardly a bother for a newlywed wife to expect her husband to spend more time with her was it? She wasn't very close to Aurane, but she could ask Corlys or Rhaekar to subtly raise the topic with their brother. She doubted there was any malice in Aurane's neglect of his wife, but it was not right nonetheless. Viserra knew what that felt like, if for only a brief time. She would not have Alys continue to dwell in it if she could help it.

"I was curious to ask something actually Irina. It felt improper to ask Aurane or his brothers. What was Lord Daemon like? You actually met him, unlike Viserra or myself. I find myself curious to hear what sort of man raised those three brothers," Alys inquired, changing the topic.

Viserra didn't wholly approve of Alys changing the topic quite unsubtly, and glancing over to Irina who sighed softly, she ascertained that neither did she. Still, she straightened slightly in her seat to pay attention to Irina's answer. She was quite curious herself.

"A proud man. Stubborn at times even, but strong. He cared deeply for his family and for the wellbeing of Driftmark," Irina recalled. "Those grandsons of his are much the same. Proud, often stubborn, and yet brilliant, so very brilliant and capable. They have a passion for this house and for this island. They've each worked hard and continue to work hard for years, seeking the continued betterment of Driftmark, never faltering or ceasing. I always thought it was a shame that there was so much tension between Rhaekar and Corlys. The pride of two stubborn men, unable to realize that they both wanted the same thing, that they need not compete for Daemon's affections for he had enough for them both."

Irina nodded to Viserra. "We have you to thank Viserra, for setting them onto the path toward reconciling. I tried myself, but I have never been close to Corlys, and Rhaekar would not heed my advice."

Viserra shook her head. "I was simply in the right place at the right time."

"And we are fortunate that you were." Irina smiled.

"Mother, Vaella's lost one of her toys and now she's complaining. What should I do?" The ladies of Driftmark turned to see Irina's ten-year old son Vaemond standing next to their table, a worried expression on his face.

"Well, be a good brother and go help her find it then," Irina chided. Vaemond soon scurried off.

"Honestly that boy. Sometimes I thinks he does that on purpose to annoy me," Irina said with some endearment in her voice. "The slightest possible excuse and he comes to see me. I suppose it's some clever plan he has come up with, a way to disturb me and make me pay attention to him, even when I am busy with my work."

"That sounds sweet," Viserra said.

Irina sighed. "I suppose it is. It can be annoying at times, but it does make me happy. My son is still at that age where he wants his mother's attention. I will have to cherish this time."

"Your son is quite responsible for his age. Polite, good-mannered, and always looking after his sister," Alys complimented politely.

"He is, isn't he?" Irina asked in that proud tone only a mother could have. "Sometimes I wonder how I was blessed with children as wonderful as Vaemond and Vaella, for all that they can be infuriating at times. I would not give them up for anything in this world. It's a sentiment I feel you both will understand in the coming years."

Viserra looked down at her plate and made to finish her meal. Thankfully, she'd been able to enjoy the taste and keep it down so far. As she distractedly picked at the remnants of her food, she considered Irina's words. She had always known that she would one day be a mother. It was expected of her to bear the heirs of House Velaryon and she was by no means opposed to that. Yet a part of her found motherhood daunting. A challenge she did not know if she was ready for. She was not sure if she would ever be ready. Her own example was lacking; to herself at least.

When they had all finished their lunch, Irina called the servants to bring dessert. Viserra was quite pleased to find it was chocolate cake. An exquisite new flavor and snack deriving from the cocoa bean, which was imported from the Summer Islands, chocolate had swiftly become one of Viserra's favorites in her time on Driftmark, or at least it had been.

Taking a bite of a piece of cake, Viserra had to suppress the desire to gag as she begrudgingly swallowed it and set the rest down on her plate. She was unlikely to take any more. That was strange and disappointing, it was usually one of her favorite snacks. This was not the first change in her taste for food she had noticed.

"Something wrong Viserra?" Alys asked.

"Yes actually. This past week or so, I've found myself with strange taste in food. Things which I favored before, like this chocolate cake, I now find impossible to stomach. And things I had little appetite for, I now find irresistible, such as lemons, raw and bitter."

Irina leaned in closer. "Is that all?"

A thought began to occur to Viserra, recalling the past days spent with either an uneasy nausea or even a violent retching at times. She remembered now, that her moon's blood had already been absent one month and wondered how she had not seen the signs earlier. "No," she answered her goodsister, realization in her voice. "I believe I've been having morning sickness as well."

Irina leaned back into her seat. "You should see Maester Desmond to confirm but… Congratulations Viserra."

"I… Thank you Irina. I'm still trying to come to terms with it myself."

"It's alright. Take all the time you need."

"How?" She grabbed Irina's hand almost desperately. "How will I know I'm ready?"

"It comes naturally to some… but for others, like myself and I think you. You'll just have to take a leap of faith."

To think only moments ago Viserra had been thinking about the challenge she feared from motherhood when she had already been set on an inescapable path toward it. The irony was great indeed.

______________________________

Rhaekar Velaryon

Rhaekar looked at the portrait before him. Like most paintings, it used perspective to give the illusion of depth, creating a shockingly realistic portrait that looked exceedingly lifelike. Yet no matter how stunningly accurate or realistic his portrait was, Daemon Velaryon's portrait was not him.

The door opened then, and in strolled the Lord of the Tides. Rhaekar stood at attention as Corlys takes his seat, the lord's seat, their grandfather's seat. Even though near two years have passed already, Rhaekar still struggled to accept that this solar and that seat was now his brother's and not their grandfather's.

"Take a seat Rhaekar," Corlys said, and in that moment he reminds him very much of their grandfather.

Obeying his lord, Rhaekar took a seat in front of Corlys and began reporting what he had come to say.

"Work in the Hook and Wendwater is proceeding well. We are expecting a greater yield from the tea plantations this harvest, and we will likely soon see profits from them. I have prepared a plan to use those profits to reinvest into our holdings in the Hook. There are countless other resources we haven't fully tapped yet. More funds would help us maximize the potential of those resources. The Wendwaters have also submitted a request for a joint venture in expanding their port on the mouth of the river," Rhaekar reported.

"Our cousin Aella is the Lady of Wendwater correct?" Corlys asked. Rhaekar couldn't blame him. House Velaryon was very large, despite its losses in the Shivers. It could be difficult at times keeping track of so many cousins and who they had wed or what they were doing.

"Yes. She has also written a personal letter supporting her family's proposal and arguing it would be beneficial to Driftmark also."

"I'm inclined to believe her. Do you have her letter with you?"

"I do," Rhaekar said, drawing it out from his pocket.

"Thank you." Corlys took the letter from his hands and started reading it. When he had finished, he gave it back to Rhaekar. "Write back to Aella, tell her that I will consider her request more fully in the coming days in order to work out a full plan outlining how much Driftmark will contribute and what we will expect in turn. However tentatively, you can tell her the answer is yes."

"Understood. There are also a few other matters I wished to speak to you about…" For the next few minutes, Rhaekar reported everything he thought relevant, concerning both Driftmark itself and the Hook and other lands sworn to it. There were no particular crises or problems at present, simply the routine running of a large fief, much of which was the day to day management which had long since been delegated to Rhaekar. However, Rhaekar felt more confident when he knew for sure his lord approved of his actions or gave him direct instructions.

Loath as he may once have been to admit it, Corlys was a good lord. When he was around on Driftmark to help in its running, he did an exceedingly good job. So much so that it sometimes left Rhaekar feeling insecure once again, that even in his chosen field of expertise, Corlys was just as good as him, maybe even better.

Their grandfather hadn't been wrong to put his trust in Corlys to lead their house. Rhaekar had always known that, but he supposed a part of him, that jealous resentful part he tried to lock up, had not wanted to accept it. Had searched for any flaws it could to justify his feelings of resentment, to hide the deeper and truer feeling of inadequacy.

Soon the conversation strayed from routine matters of stewardship and governance to someone they both cared for. "How is Viserra doing?" Corlys asked.

"Very well actually. She's a dedicated student, and a very fast learner. Irina and I have often found ourselves surprised at how fast she has picked up," Rhaekar praised.

Viserra had become somewhat of a protégé of both Rhaekar and his wife in the past few months. She was by now a good friend, in time something akin to the little sister he had never had perhaps. Their similar, if somewhat different experiences with being the middle child of their families had helped them form a connection. It was Viserra's insights that had seen him slowly relent on his feelings toward Corlys, even if they were yet unsettled.

Corlys smiled and Rhaekar could not help but feel wonder at the expression on his brother's face. It reminded him much of his own smile for Irina. He was happy for him. Viserra was clearly good for him.

"I'm glad to hear it. She's a very brilliant and clever woman. It's wonderful to see her growing into her own," Corlys said.

"She is," Rhaekar agreed. "It is not solely her efforts that should be praised but yours too. I noticed, and she said so herself, her progress improved dramatically after you tutored her." Rhaekar said, trying to give a compliment to Corlys. He wondered if it came across correctly.

"Thank you Rhaekar. It is rare that I receive a compliment from you," Corlys said gratefully.

And I you, Rhaekar could not help but think. Corlys had tried, no doubt on Viserra's prodding, to show more overt acknowledgement of Rhaekar's contributions. He was grateful for it, but they still felt like rare occurrences, and hollow even though he knew they were sincere.

"Yet one cannot help but feel that Viserra is still possessed by an overly strong drive to prove herself. A leftover symptom perhaps, from the lack of acknowledgement she judged her family to have given her. She is not the only one."

Rhaekar looked at his brother in surprise. This was how he sought to settle things?

Corlys smiled sadly, almost awkwardly. "Must I be blunt? I will confess, awkward cordiality and politeness is much better than the thinly concealed hostility it was before Viserra came, yet it is not a long-term resolution. Whether we like it or not, we must have this conversation sooner or later before the tension between us festers once more like an undressed wound."

"And you would rather it be sooner?"

"Yes. I want my brother back. The brother who was thick as thieves with Aurane and I when we were boys. The brother I trusted with Driftmark."

Rhaekar found himself confused. "It was our grandfather that trusted me with Driftmark. Not you."

Corlys looked to the portrait of Daemon hanging near the door of the solar and shook his head. "Our grandfather… he didn't expect as much of you or Aurane. It's the truth, bitter as it may be. I will confess my fault in that. I was too brilliant a child and our grandfather, broken and grieving after the loss of so many of our kin, latched on to me as the future of our house. When you and Aurane proved to be far more 'ordinary', he was disappointed."

Rhaekar knew it wasn't Corlys's fault, but he felt his anger return, clenching his fists on the desk. It wasn't Corlys's fault, but it was so much easier to be angry at him who was alive and present before him than a dead and buried grandfather he had loved deeply and tried to make proud all his life.

"You remember I am sure, the arguments that I had with Grandfather when Aurane and I planned our first voyage?"

"Yes. Of course I do."

"When our grandfather's wrath was at its peak, he demanded to know what he should do, should a storm take Aurane and I? I told him then, that I had two brothers, and the one I was leaving behind was a worthy heir. He made you the steward of Driftmark because of that."

Rhaekar, who had turned his face toward the ground away from Corlys in an effort to suppress his anger, turned it up sharply toward him and barked. "You're lying."

Corlys shook his head. "I am not, Rhaekar. I knew even when we were boys, even when you seemed an immature and arrogant brat at times, you had the potential in you to be extraordinary in your own way. And now I know my predictions were true. You are perhaps the finest steward Driftmark has ever boasted.

"Our grandfather made you steward when I left that first time. To test you perhaps. I know you felt he was strict and overbearing and expecting too much. Quite honestly perhaps he was, but it was borne out of a desire to see you reach the potential I claimed you to have. Perhaps motivated by some residual anger toward myself, he wanted to see if you failed. Lo and behold you surpassed his expectations and proved to be a very promising junior steward. He told me as much himself when I returned."

Rhaekar didn't know how to feel. He didn't want to feel.

"Do not resent Grandfather. Flawed as he was, he cared for you and realized your worth in the end. You were right Rhaekar. You were the one who spent years with our grandfather, managing Driftmark and caring for him as he aged into dotage and senility. You may feel that he didn't care for that compared to my achievements, but I guarantee you he did. He made that clear enough to me," Corlys said with a tint of resentment he barely detected.

Rhaekar looked at his brother and realized that in his own way, his brother too must have had his difficulties with their grandfather. "I was not alone in questioning our grandfather's affections was I?" 

After all, Corlys and Daemon's relationship had not been perfect, they had argued much over his remaining unwed and going on dangerous voyages once he had grown up. Rhaekar had used to resent that his brother still seemed to have their grandfather's love and esteem despite it all, yet now he realized that perhaps those arguments had been Corlys's own chafing against the expectations of Daemon Velaryon.

"No. You were not. I was the closest to him when we were younger, but we grew more distant eventually. You know the story. I wasn't content with spending my youth merely ruling and developing Driftmark. I sought adventure and riches for our house, and argued as much to him. I tried to convince him that I would be serving the house as much, if not more than if I stayed on Driftmark to continue ruling it with him. He would not listen. That first voyage, Aurane and I went without his blessing. He told me that he would see us when we returned in failure. Instead we returned laden with the riches with which we built High Tide and later Spicetown with.

"He was amazed of course, and pleased at our surprising success no doubt. But it is easier to forgive someone for being wrong than for being right. I always had a feeling he had never quite forgiven that I had so blatantly defied him and had brought immense fortune to our house despite his predictions. A blow to his pride he could not truly forget despite himself.

"And in those days, when Aurane and I were gone for years at a time. It was you that he turned to. The grandson that remained with him, and he taught you all that you needed to know of stewardship and governance in my stead. It was no longer I that spent the most time with him, but you."

Rhaekar nodded in understanding. For a time, the two brothers remained in a silent contemplation before Corlys spoke again.

"I have said my part. Now I would hear from you Rhaekar. What is it that you feel towards me? How can we mend this relationship of ours? What do you expect of me, and what can I expect of you in turn?"

Rhaekar gulped. He had wanted to vent on Corlys for years, yet now that it had finally come, it felt daunting, especially given the new information he had learned. He felt like he was in the wrong in some way for feeling or thinking some of the things he did. Yet he shook the hesitation away. Corlys had laid bare his own feelings and told the truth, he should return in kind.

"When we were boys, I admired you. You were everything that I wanted to be. I suppose over the years, the seeds of jealousy were sowed under that admiration. Especially when you and Aurane proved to be fine sailors, and I a lacking one. I, a Velaryon born to ride the waves, and I could scarcely bear to be on a ship.

"You and Aurane went gallivanting across the world against the will of our grandfather, and you proved wildly successful, without me. Gone was the time when the three of us did everything together. You took Aurane and left me behind to care for our grandfather and govern Driftmark and I did, commendably by your own words. And yet to me it seemed always like he favored you more and the pragmatic part of me cannot help but agree for you had brought back such phenomenal wealth. You singlehandedly lifted our house to its zenith Corlys. I was resentful I suppose. Part of me still is, to be left unable to take part in that, and feeling like the work I could do was not appreciated," Rhaekar confessed.

"Thank you, for telling me," Corlys said finally. "I feel I must reassure you Rhaekar. You are not lesser simply because you were left behind, nor is the work you do any less important even if it may be thought less prestigious by others. Personal glory and renown need not be the most important things in life.

"Did you know, our grandfather covered up my invention of the compass and chess, and so many other things because he feared the attention it would bring to me? Of course in time when our university was established and my own reputation had grown, such things became more generally known anyway but I accepted his wishes, if begrudgingly. So long as our house was uplifted, it mattered less to me if I was given personal accolades."

"You never told me that," Rhaekar said, though he had guessed as much.

"It feels unjust to be denied credit, denied appreciation for your hard work doesn't it?" Corlys asked. "And fair or not, history will remember a steward less than the Sea Snake or his lieutenant. You will never be the face of our house, never the famed adventurer or sailor Aurane and I are but you became something just as important, if not more. You are our rock Rhaekar, now even more so that our grandfather has passed.

"It is upon your capable stewardship that our house rests. You ensure I have the funds needed for all my projects and plans. You keep our fief and house in good order, while I politick in King's Landing or travel our domain. I would never have felt at ease leaving Driftmark for my voyages, for my business as Master of Ships or otherwise, if I did not know that I had you to hold it for me. Someone I trust implicitly despite our differences. Someone I know who is better than me at handling its affairs. My brother, Rhaekar Velaryon, Driftmark's finest steward."

Corlys stood up then. "No man rules alone brother. A house divided against itself cannot stand. I cannot do this without you. Will you stand with me, reconciled and true brothers once more?"

Rhaekar rose from his seat. "I will never be Aurane. I will never blindly follow you into foolish plans like he does."

"I don't need you to," Corlys said seriously. "I don't expect you to follow me into the depths of Yi Ti to steal from the Emperor, or to carry out reckless gambles with pirates. All I need you to do, is to continue as you have been, a capable and shrewd steward, and one who is not afraid to speak his mind and tell his lord when he is making a mistake. I need you as you are now, preferably without the awkward politeness or hostility.

"The scar I received from Riptide's former owner is testament to my ability to make mistakes, as much as I am loath to admit it. I want you to continue being the critic, and to become my right hand as Aurane is my left. Can you do that?"

Rhaekar grasped his brother's outstretched hand firmly. "You're giving me license, no not even that, asking me to keep criticizing you? Gladly," he jested with a hearty smile as he agreed.

Corlys smirked at the jape, remembering as Rhaekar did, a time when this brotherly banter was common and not taken as insult. "We have an agreement then brother."

"Aye."

In that moment, a forgotten memory came to mind. Rhaekar remembered once how his grandfather had said that each of the three of them, Rhaekar, Corlys, and Aurane, each had a role to play in their house, and if they worked together, nothing could stop them. He wondered if his grandfather would be proud to see his estranged grandsons fulfilling his vision at last.

__________________________________

Viserra

Viserra leaned her head on the wall beside the door of Corlys's solar, listening in on a conversation not meant for her ears. She knew she shouldn't be eavesdropping, but she found it calmed her nerves, distracted her from her own worries. She was also excited to see, or rather hear, the completion of the task she had been working on for what was by now, years. The reconciliation of Corlys and his brother Rhaekar.

A rather happy but unexpected coincidence that it would be now though. It seemed that Corlys would be receiving two joys today, not just one.

The door opened suddenly, scaring her a little with the abruptness as Rhaekar walked out and noticed her leaning against the wall. It was too late to pretend she wasn't listening. Rhaekar shook his head in fond exasperation before walking away. "Thank you," he said earnestly as he walked, not turning his face back toward her once.

She looked toward the door, trying to find the courage. She wasn't sure what she was afraid of. Rhaekar had closed the door behind him as he left so Corlys shouldn't know that she was here. She paced in front of the door for a little while, trying to think on what to say. As she mustered up her courage, the door opened.

"Do you have something to say to me Viserra? I could hear you pacing since Rhaekar left," Corlys said, an amused smile on his face.

Like a deer caught in the torch light, she froze momentarily before regaining her bearings. "I… I do."

"Please, come in then." He opened the door wider and gestured towards the seats with his hand.

Corlys took his seat but Viserra did not take her own yet. Not having any desire to sit in a recently occupied seat, she took the colder seat and dragged it over beside Corlys. Sitting gracefully on her chair, she took both of Corlys's hands in her own.

"I am with child," she announced.

She watched as the inquisitive expression on his face morphed into the brightest smile she had ever seen adorn it and felt her heart skip a beat.

"Truly?" he asked, as if in disbelief.

She nodded. "I had my suspicions, and Maester Desmond confirmed them. Not quite ten weeks he said."

"I… I had not thought it would be this soon, but I suppose it was not unexpected," Corlys said, mirth in his eyes.

No indeed, Viserra thought, recalling their many nights together the past few months.

Corlys's expression dimmed a little then and he looked into her eyes and pressed his forehead to rest gently against hers. "Will you be alright? I know you are already nine and ten, but part of me cannot help but fear…"

She shook her head. "It is not the birth I fear, but the motherhood that follows that gives me pause."

"Why?" he asked. Confusion writ on his face.

"How good of a mother will I be? Can I be, with the example I was given? I cannot possibly emulate my own can I?" she confessed, pulling back from him.

Corlys pressed his lips against her forehead before he moved his fingers to brush some of her hair that had fallen from her neatly kept fringe. Tucking it gently behind her ear, he brought his hand to caress her cheek softly and she felt herself relax into his touch.

"Viserra Velaryon. You are not your mother," he said softly. "You were listening in earlier were you not? Rhaekar and I have mended our relationship at last after many long years. You made that possible. I have every faith that you will rise to the challenge of raising your children, our children, regardless of the poor example given to you by your own mother."

She looked into his eyes and saw what she thought might be love in those purple irises. Unspoken, and undeclared, but she did not need it to be right now.

"And if your worries trouble you still, there are many you can look to apart from your mother. My aunt Laena perhaps, if you feel she has any wisdom to impart to you. Irina also will be happy to help and advise you, as will your elder sisters I am sure."

Viserra idly wondered how helpful her elder sisters would truly be where this was concerned. She'd never write to Saera of all people for advice and while Alyssa and her had become close in the past year, Viserra remained hesitant to ask her. Alyssa was after all, the reckless madwoman who had taken her infant sons riding on her dragon within a fortnight of their birth. Following that example seemed… unwise to Viserra.

Alyssa had also fallen into melancholy and grief after losing her third son in the cradle and becoming barren. It might be cruel to remind her so blatantly of what she had lost, and Viserra had no wish to hurt her any further.

Daella perhaps? Viserra had never been close to her, though neither had she bullied her like Saera had. Shy and sweet little Daella. She knew her mother still wrote often to her though the rest of the family seemed to have forgotten her. Perhaps it was time to reach out to her? But how did one even go about writing to a sister they barely knew?

Irina might very well be the best option thought Viserra. She had already helped her earlier and the older woman was somewhat of a mentor and friend to her. Corlys's aunt Laena might have some sage wisdom to offer as well, experience from managing the orphanage and that pack of rambunctious children.

Now that she thought about it, her friend Laena Qoherys, was also nearby on Claw Isle. Viserra had been so swamped by her new duties, she had completely forgotten to visit or write her old friend. A trip to Claw Isle, or a letter at least was definitely in order to share the good news.

"You know. This is making me think once again…"

"Hmm?" Viserra turned her attention back to Corlys, curious.

"How will we decide our children's names?" he asked.

Viserra would confess, the idea of what name to give her unborn child hadn't even crossed her mind yet, but now that her husband brought it up, she could not help but ponder. "I don't know." She giggled childishly, feeling herself overcome by a strange mix of worry and excitement anticipating the moment those names would be needed.

Corlys chuckled. "A compromise perhaps? You name any daughters that we may have, and I will name any sons."

"And what if there are only sons and no daughters, or the reverse?" she asked, eyebrow raised.

"Well, that is the gamble," he replied, wearing a mischievous smile. Viserra decided to humor him.

"Very well. I accept your proposal. Though I will keep my motherly right to veto any horrid names you may find yourself possessed to bestow upon our poor sons."

"Hah. And do I get any fatherly right to this for our daughters?"

"No," Viserra said, a smirk on her lips, a glint in her eyes. "No you do not. You can be sure that I would give my daughters only the most beautiful names, befitting the beauty they will surely inherit from me."

"I believe you." Corlys was amused. In endearment he said, "I don't quite mind then, but I will retain my freedom to make suggestions."

"As I retain mine to reject them if I so please," she said overly seriously before both of them could hold back no more and laughed in delight.

As their laughter subsided, Viserra felt her worries begin to creep back up. As if sensing that, Corlys placed his hand on her cheek again in a gentle rebuke. "Put aside your worries. Leave them in the future where they belong. Focus on this moment, right here, right now. Because this moment Viserra, is the happiest moment of my life. The first of many I wish to have with you. And I hope one day, all these moments of mine will be yours too."

She wasn't entirely sure what feelings ran through her then. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart quickened. It felt like there was fire filling her veins, making her bold. She leaned in and kissed him. Her answer was not spoken. It did not need to be.