Duty Calls

The wake of Jaehaerys had ended. He had not been there. Naerys did as he was bade, staying at the Red Keep. The boy had always liked the king. The man had not ever slighted his family even if other Targaryens might without a second thought. Relived from his duties since Lord Arkas Baratheon had returned to the Keep, the boy made for a garden on the edge of the Godswood. He still wore his full compliment of armor.

While a burden on his still growing frame, it was near as heavy as the burden that weighed on his heart. Finding an intricately carved stone bench amongst some shrubs, the boy's black boots scrubbed softly along the perfectly even grass to take a seat with a sigh. Setting his sallet beside him with a small clank, the half dragon's gloved hands reached behind his neck to unfasten the strap for his bevor. Once loose it opened as he lifted it from where fit into the gorget around his neck.

Setting it with the sallet, his chin was now both unprotected and unrestrained. His violet eyes spared a glance at the scales carved into the metal surface of the gorget, a similar motif though most of the steel pieces he wore across his upper body, though these weren't many. In the center of the gorget that rested on his chest was a raised section above the scales. The tree headed dragon of House Targaryen was set into the surface here, painted a maroon.

Perhaps his father had not thought them worthy of the bright red typically seen on the sigil. Sometimes he didn't feel worthy of the standard at all. Exhaling another sigh through his nose, the youth looked up to see the sun setting beyond the trees, casting a brilliant array of reds and oranges across the heavy clouds floating in the evening sky. Something sure felt as if it were setting alright. This would be the only wake that Naerys would get to see for the day.

''Father,'' he prayed quietly to himself. ''Please don't judge the seven kingdoms too harshly.'' Naerys closed his eyes and bowed his head, as if denying himself the beauty of nature would somehow makes his words more sincere to those who were gods in the heavens above. ''Crone, please see wisdom where it is needed so the seven kingdoms stay whole.'' For a few moments longer the boy kept his eyes closed, but eventually they did part.

The purple orbs looked to the setting sun once again as he inclined his head slowly. Outside of the wake, this would have to so for a goodbye for Jaehaerys II Targaryen, whom he viewed as a good king. One that would be hard to replace... especially with so many replacements to chose from. Part of Naerys thought he might hear something back, some otherworldly answer. Only the singing
of the crickets and the cicadas came to his ears.

OISIN BARATHEON