@whatsbehindthefacade cont'd
Daeron had never envisioned himself a father.
In truth, he had never envisioned himself married either. But after his cousin's passing, there had remained the issue of his lady wife, and the close alliance with Tyrosh that her presence in court fostered. And so, when the period of mourning had passed, it had been much deliberated, the conclusion being that Daeron was the only viable option, both in age and not already being betrothed to another. So Daeron had wed her, and as years had passed, while they were perhaps not in love, a gentle love and friendship had been fostered there nonetheless. He was no fool, he knew that Kiera had loved Valarr, and gods knew he could certainly never match up to his cousin. But they could be comfortable together. There had been no talk of a child, for Daeron knew how she had lost her babes before, and he was quite content to not have one of his own.
But then Aerys had died, and his father had been thrust onto the throne, and thus Daeron had been named heir, prince of Dragonstone, though he hated both the title and the place. And suddenly there had been the pressure, that he would need to have an heir of his own. So he and Kiera had talked about it, and Kiera had expressed that she still had hope to have a child. And so they had tried, and Kiera had fallen pregnant, but Daeron knew not to become too hopeful, not until the babe had been born.
And now here she was. A beautiful little girl with a soft head of downy curls, hale and hearty. Daeron was in love with every little aspect of her. "A girl," he confirmed for his mother, still gazing down at the sweet babe swaddled in his arms. He leaned into his mother's hold, a smile playing on his features, perhaps the happiest he had appeared in a while, "She's perfect."
"Oh my darling, she is perfect, for true," Dyanna cooed, holding her own baby tight with one arm, while she brushed the soft curls atop her granddaughter's head with one finger. "I have seen my fair share of perfect babes, and as you well know all of my own were keenly perfect," she smirked. "But this is perhaps the most perfect babe I have ever laid my eyes upon. Perhaps even more perfect than you were, which is no easy feat," she chuckled.
Dyanna straightens then, and takes a step back in order to commit the scene to memory. "You look quite the natural," she commended him proudly. "All those years of being an elder brother have served you well, my boy. But I believe being a father will be your best role to date." She could not help herself, and moved to kiss his cheek fondly. "I am so very, very proud of you, zaldrītsos."
"May I hold the little one?" she asked hopefully, having been ever so eager to do just that from the moment she had heard Kiera was labouring. "Oh, my darling, has she a name yet?" she asked, all of a dither.
