Laena Longwaters

Laena Longwaters was Ser Vance Longwater's only daughter. She served as a lady-in-waiting to Aelinor Targaryen, but doubled also as her enforcer.

She died on the 12th day of the 8th moon in 407 AC, having succumbed to first degree burns and internal bleeding, which she sustained during her failed attempt to tame Viserion.

Appearance and Character
Laena had long, black hair, which she usually kept in a tightly bound ponytail; bold and severe eyebrows; green, downturned eyes; a medium, bulbous nose; full lips; and a lithe, almost wiry physique.

When not wearing a gown, Laena wore a pixane and hauberk over leather, with steel vambraces around her wrists and steel scale armour around her stomach for added protection.

Laena was austere but experimental. She was vicious in combat and, boasting little in the way of charisma, curt in conversation with strangers. She was quite proud of her "dragon heritage," and had admitted on several occasions to preferring the company of "dragonbloods" over others.

History
Laena was born in 387 AC to Ser Vance Longwaters, a career knight, and his wife, Jeyne Longwaters. Laena grew up enraptured by her father's weekly bedtime stories. He told her tales of heroic knights fighting in wars, and of valiant heroes accomplishing impossible quests, all for the sake of fame and glory. In her young mind, every last one of these fabled knights was her father, and she wanted nothing more than to be just like him.

On Laena's eighth nameday, her father was supposed to deliver her an especially riveting story, as was tradition, but was accosted on his way home by a group of hedge knights, who killed him over a simple disagreement. Laena waited hours for him to come home, only to be devastated after her mother, Jeyne, had arrived first with tears streaking down her face.

To survive on their own, Jeyne, Laena, and Laenor, her brother, were forced to move from their large manse on the northwest side of Rhaenys' Hill to a more modest home on the southwest side, wedging the three between Flea Bottom and the Street of Silk. Jeyne struggled with depression in the aftermath of her husband's departure, but took up painting and basket weaving to occupy her time; Laenor trained to become like his father, and tried finding the knights who had killed him; and Laena directed what few retainers her family had kept on to escort her around the city on her own errands: regularly visiting the Dragonpit, exploring the larger city, attending court at the Red Keep, and, amongst other things, beating up boys who pretended to be knights. Laena trained with her brother as well, when she could, and proved as good a fighter as him, if not better, despite contributing less time to the endeavour.

In 499 AC, while their mothers reconnected at court for the first time in over a decade, Laena and Princess Aelinor Tagaryen met for the first time. Laena immediately worshiped Aelinor for her purer, Valyrian bloodline, and the two fast became friends. Eventually, Visaera, Aelinor's mother, invited Jeyne, Laenor, and Laena to attend her court. She employed Jeyne as one of her ladies in waiting, Laenor as a squire to Prince Aemon, and Laena as Aelinor's personal handmaiden.

With so many elite warriors, including warrior women, consistently in close proximity, Laena gained direct access to superior combat training at Dragonstone. Over her years of service to Aelinor, Lanea mastered both the spear and dagger, and surpassed many of Dragonstone's resident warriors. Laena also took to wearing chainmail more than gowns, though not always, as her duties increasingly deviated from the typical handmaiden's; while she did serve as a maid, she also served as an enforcer, a confidante, and a motivator for her Princess. Whatever her desires were, Laena would carry them out.

Sixth Moon

 * Laena attended the Harrenhal tourney with Princess Aelinor Targaryen, but chose not to compete in the tournament.
 * In a drunken stupor, Laena danced with Lucerys Velaryon on the night of the closing feast.
 * As Laena started to sober up, she approached King Aenar I Targaryen and professed her admiration for him. In reply, he acknowledged her Targaryen ancestry and offered her words of wisdom.
 * Throwing Laena into a seething fury, Lucerys failed to present himself the next morning at the mouth of the God's Eye for a playful duel.
 * Left behind with the remainder of the royal train, Laena travelled with her peers to King's Landing, contemplating her king's words.

Seventh Moon

 * Laena arrived at King's Landing on the 6th Day of the 7th Moon.
 * Four days later, Laena would accompany Aelinor, her siblings, and the small council in receiving Princess Meria Martell at King's Landing.


 * At tea with her charge and peers, Laena shared some of her ongoing tribulations.

Eighth Moon

 * At King Aenar I Targaryen's funeral, Laena weeped for the king she had dearly admired.
 * Queen Visaera Targaryen tasked Laena with taming the great Viserion, Aenar’s former dragon. She eagerly accepted.
 * Laena Longwaters, in her attempt to tame Viserion on the cliffs of Massey’s Hook, was grievously injurred by the great dragon. She would later succumb to her wounds in the dragon’s roost.

Family

 * Ser Vance Longwaters, 359-395
 * m. Jeyne Longwaters, b. 369
 * Ser Laenor Longwaters, b. 385
 * Laena Longwaters, (387-407)

Household/NPCs

 * Jeyne Longwaters
 * Ser Laenor Longwaters