Valaena Velaryon

Valaena Velaryon, more commonly known as "Vale" is the second daughter of her father Aurane Velaryon but first daughter of Baela Targaryen from Summerhall. A woman seemingly fated by the gods as ill omens have surrounded her since birth, after the Mummer's war she has conquered the dragon Erinnon and rides between the continents.

Appearance
A strange tall athletic woman bearing the Valyrian violet eyes with braided soft blonde hair, skin tanned from days out in the hot sun giving her a golden appearance. Scars dot her body with the most noticeable give away to her personage being that she is always gloved with one of the gloved fingers on her right hand sewn shut for she lost a finger ages ago to the dragon she now rides.

Character
A beaten dog can either break or bite back.

Valaena was a girl that was mistreated by even the gods since she was born. Born in the middle of a storm, her dragon egg growing cold and dead in her crib beside her. Nothing but ill omens have been seen around her since her birth. Valaena is fierce, both physically and mentally, as well as self-reliant, impressionable, and persistent. But has retained a humble nature, due to her isolation.

For her whole life, everyone has loved everyone else over her; her father, her mother, her younger sisters and even the symbol of her bloodline the dragons. The death of her sister Daenaera being the 'straw that broke the camels back' or 'the dog being letting off the leash'. Causing her once family orientated nature to turn on itself no longer possessing the patience nor compromise to put down roots anywhere.

She used her history of oppression as a means to increase her determination and became progressively more insistent on reaching her goals than ever before with each memory of how she has been shunned in life; she believed in the importance of always trying and making an effort to reach your goals, no matter what. Be it god, dragon or queen in your way. With the foresight to watch her back she tries to keep far out of the power struggles of the many houses of Westeros and cities of Essos.

History
Valaena was born in the year 391, unlike her sister Valaena was born in a middle of a storm that shook their home. It was said that the storm raged all throughout her mothers labour whose cries matched the crackling of lightning.

Much like her sister she too was bestowed a dragon's egg in her cradle, three weeks and Daenaera's dragon Erinnon hatched while her egg grew cold. Some say this was the gods themselves declaring the girls enemies and which one of them was obviously more favoured. With ill omens surrounding her life, Valaena was mostly taken care of by a wary nursemaid who prayed for the child. Her prayers however seemed to go very much answered.

In the year of 194 AC on the sixth moon there was a scream that wracked the castle. Valaena and Daenaera who had never gotten along fought once again the cause has been lost to time but what is known is that after Valaena struck her sister Erinnon attacked. The dragon was still small but more then powerful enough as it jumped between the two and sunk its teeth into Valaena's hand. He did not relent until he had taken a finger leaving the young Valaena traumatized and terrified screaming for help. To this day Valaena has carried the scars of that encounter, her hand mangled and one finger down the belly of the beast. She was nursed by the Maester who quickly cleaned the wounds saving her the use of her hand and her life.

From then on Valaena would have nightmares of a dragon swallowing her whole and the wedge between sisters deepened farther. She was terrified of Daenaera's dragon to the point she avoided her sister instead withdrawing far away much to the displeasure of her father. She took up acts that would take her far from Daenaera's presence such as riding. She pursued many things but never seemed to be a master at any skill, outshined by Daenaera more and more as they grew older. While others watched Daenaera take flight for the first time at the age of ten, Valaena curled up and cried in her room dreading that the pair would fly up and eat her. She did everything she could to drive Daenaera away and never reconciled.

Her uncle Lucerys becoming a dragon rider gave her a small hope for a short time that not everything was bad... that is until much like everyone else he favored Daenaera's company. Valaena would be without a friend in the world if it were not for her loving grandparents. While over looked by her father and mother, she was treated well by Vaemond and Vaella, who encouraged the girl despite her fathers disapproval into pursuits that would help her gain confidence such as riding, dancing, and even martial skill. Like her grandfather she loved the sea and sailing though scolded for climbing upon rigging more then once. Those beautiful days of respite were not to last as first her grandmother Vaella Targaryen passed and then her beloved grandfather. Valaena cried for many days for she felt alone in the world once again.

When the family went to the tourney at Harrenhal she did not attend any of the events and was not missed much to her expectations. Though to compound horror upon tragedy, after Harrenhal as they made their way home their boat was struck by none other than her uncle and half sister upon their dragons. Valaena would have died of fright if it were not for the cries of her family, she pulled her mother away quickly cursing her traitorous family as she wept fresh tears thinking she was to be devoured just as she thought. Until surprisingly Daenaera turned on their uncle, the ship was on fire her father was wounded and the dragons fought above. She quickly got her mother, younger sisters and father to safety before Daenaera returned to spirit them away back home.

She chose to swim. When she washed upon shore there was no one to greet her, she shivering and cold coming home to furious father, a distraught mother and no sign of Daenaera. Her little sisters she consoled, before drawing her own bath shaking as she held her scarred hand. The gods were as always cruel and unkind... all were more worried over themselves or Daenaera then her safety, though at least she received a hug from her mother.

Mummer's War
The war kept Valaena squarely sequestered in her families home of Driftmark there locked in the castle. She had little sisters to watch over, a pregnant mother and a sick father. Valaena did her duty and was an obedient caring daughter taking up the reigns in Daenaera's absence. Then came the call from the queen... charges may be laid... it was news everyone dreaded, her father thank the seven regained his strength enough to make the journey taking Valaena with him 'practice being a diplomat and lady of the house' he said. But she was terrified for the capital was home to the dragons he greatest fears and her uncle the traitorous Lucerys was in the queens favor. By the time they reached the capital she felt more of a sacrifice than heir apparent in Daenaera's absence. And it seemed that it may be so... he father left her in her care of her second uncle Corlys while he went to visit the queen. The brief moment had uncle and niece taking small comforts in one another glad for eachothers safety but the fear was there.

Luckily her father proved strong willed enough to keep the families head above water, Valaena returned home with her father and for the first time in a long time the two hugged tight.

A Dog Can Only Be Beaten So Many Times Before....
Within the year of Daenaera's disappearance, Valaena was the happiest she had ever been while secretly missing her sister she also wished her to remain far as for once in her life she was doted upon. Her father had named her his heir and she was finally given opportunities to shine outside the shadow of her sister, she took to the martial arts and sailing like a fish to water diving deep into trade and currents. Determined to one day make her father proud and perhaps serve as the first female master of ships. Everything for a moment was wonderful.... and then that moment passed.

Her mother gave birth to a baby boy, after so many years and so many daughters... there was a male heir to the house. Valaena's new world shattered the second the gender of her newest sibling was proclaimed and she watched as her father eyes lit up with a joy that it never would for her. Her heart was broken, and she looked upon the squirming babe in its crib hoping it would die the vile nasty little monster. Never once had she felt hatred so vile, she wished to toss her baby brother off a tower or into the sea, and when she was first left alone with him she nearly did so. Her neglectful parents had left her alone to watch him, after all who would not trust the faithful beaten dog? She held him out a window let him dangle until he began to cry before sense came back to her.

From then on she avoided him as if he were the plague, dreading the person she was becoming with this poison in her soul. Politics and games of power were driving her family apart at the very core. The beaten dog questions the world.

Not a year after his birth did a familair call ring out across Driftmark.... Erinnon. She would know the beasts wretched call anywhere. Daenaera was back.... one small comfort now she would have a sister to argue with again and share the unfortunate news that they had a baby brother. But Daenaera never came home.... guards were sent out only to run back home with their tales between their legs and a report. It was Erinnon indeed, but there was no sign of Daenaera he had returned home riderless. Valaena was confused but let it go perhaps her sister was just getting ready for some grand entrance. But days passed and still no Daenaera, finally her father in his oh so wise exasperation ordered her to call her sister out of hiding despite Valaena's well known fear. And the beaten dog walked to death dragging it's heavy chain behind.

There had only been one moment more terrifying to Valaena in her entire life and that had been when this monster ate her finger. Now she stood at the entrance to its sea side cave the guards that were sent with her running when they had heard the dragons roar. She could not for she had forgotten how to move in terror. She could never recall how many hours she just stood there before her voice found her and let her call out for her sister into the darkness. She could have died of fright soon after though because her sisters annoying melodious voice did not respond, the thumping of heavy footfalls and the dragon himself coming to appear before her was her answer.

There are no words conceivable to describe the fear, pain and anguish one can feel when yelling at death incarnate for the loss of a loved one. Daenaera had been many things to Valaena but... her sister had always noticed her, always saw her for good or bad. Now she was dead.... and with her passing Valaena would die too as some forgotten spinster. She had no one in the world, and it broke her driving her to madness.

No one knows what happened in that cave truely only that it lasted three days.

By the end of those three days Erinnon sped from the cave like hell was on it's heels before turning to the palace.... with Valaena upon his back. Castle reports claim that she drove the beast right to the courtyard landing him upon the roof which buckled and when met with her father she denounced The Seven, Her family, Her father, the house of Velyron and Targaryen. And wished them all a fitting death for their greed, vanity and foolish pride. Wrecking the side of a tower, burning the house sigil upon it and then stealing one of the cows for good measure before leaving.

She was never spotted or heard from in Driftmark again

Overcomming Fear
Valaena made her way from Driftmark all the way down to the stepstones hoping Erinnon could take her far into Essos where she could disappear away from the world. But there was still one issue.... she was still terrified of him. Once the adrenaline had settled she found herself atop a dragon and nearly passed out from fear. Beginning what could only be seen as a comical set of misfortunes as she tried to just leave the beast in the beginning of the steps but was constantly saved by the dragon. Only to be more afraid and try to get away faster. She was lost alone and hungry with the only company being her greatest fear. Perhaps it was a a greater fear of death, the need to survive, Erinnon's unending loyalty to his new rider or a combination but after days she was able to touch him on the side without screaming. He did give her nasty frights when he came around corners though.

She was able to get on his back again clumsily making it through the steps until encountering one Aeryn Targaryen who sheltered her and Erinnon. For the better part of a year Aeryn and Valaena spent time together as he aided her in mitigating her fears the two forming a close friendship as a result but.... Valaena left the castle one night with only a note promising to visit.

Years In A Moment
Valaena Velaryon traveled the known world from the years 411 to 418, never staying in one place for too long. From Asshai of the Shadow to Vaes Dothrak, amongst the Free Cities and Westeros.

Noted Appearances:

In 411 Vale and Erinnon saved Aelyxa Pyke inadvertently when she arrived during a bandit attack

In 414 Vale appeared in the mountains around summerhall where she encountered Rhaenys Targaryen, the two had a brief affair that ended the second she learned of Rhaenys' true identity. She flew from Westeros as fast as possible not seen for a year after.

Recent History
Valaena begins her semi annual crossing from Essos to Westeros in time for the tourney.