Daena Velaryon

Daena Velaryon is the fifth daughter of Lord Aurane Velaryon and Princess Baela Targaryen. Vaemond Velaryon, his brother, is Lord of Driftmark. She resides in Driftmark.

Appearance and Character
Ash blonde hair, blue-green eyes. Daena’s face mirrors Aelora’s stubbornness and resilience, but not her beauty; she is plain with a puggish nose and a chest flat as a boy’s. Her hair is kept in a messy bob, just past her large ears, and freckles dust her cheeks and shoulders.

While Daena attempted to dress well in her youth to attract the eye of her childhood crush, Viserys, she resorted to plain dresses and bland colors after he died. The change in wardrobe deterred any possible suitors. A result with which she was completely content.

No longer destined to wed and become lady of a household or princess of the realm, Daena had to choose a different path. While still young, that path led to the library of Driftmark and, on occasion, the Red Keep.

Childhood (408 AC - 417 AC)
Born the fifth daughter and child of the Lord of Driftmark, Daena was destined to be used as some political piece in marriage. However, that destiny did not suit her as she grew up an ugly child. If not for her heritage and house, Daena likely would have been doomed to a life without a family to call her own. Luckily, the scorn her father might have given her for not being a son was lifted when such an heir was finally born. Vaemond and Daena grew up side by side their entire lives. They went through various guardians including their older sister, Aelora, until no one competent was left.

Daena did everything with Vaemond, exploring the vast cliffs and beaches of the island, staying up late in the library reading stories, and enjoying the freedoms of childhood without parents. While Daena was jealous of her brother and his dragon, she figured out that with a subtle suggestion or firm hand, she could maintain control over her brother. It was never done out of malice, though, but simply a means of self-preservation.

Branching Out (417 AC - 424 AC)
Over time, Daena was forced to go out into the world and meet other people. One such occasion was the Tournemant of Summerhall where her family suffered greatly. However, she pushed through her grief and stuck to those new friends she met along the way.

One such friend was Elyana Dayne and another was the vagabond prince, Viserys Targaryen. There was also her brother's new companion and their mutual cousin, Aerys Velaryon. Like they had in their youths, Daena and Vaemond did almost everything together. However, Vaemond now had another dragonrider to spend time with while Daena was rooted to the ground. Instead of worrying about Vaemond, Daena turned her focus towards Viserys.

The Prince was meant to fulfill her life completely. The Prince was able to have any woman as a bride but Daena could offer more than a pretty face: a brain. When Elyana or Viserys were busy, Daena would bury herself in books of many different topics. Often, she would go out onto the tops of the highest towers in Driftmark and look up at the sky. Her vertical view eventually made her interested in another topic, one that made her family and people famous among the Seven Kingdoms. The great beasts of Valyria were better documented in the past 100 years thanks to the progeny of Daenarys Stormborn's dragons and Daena read everything written down she could find on them. This often led to reading many books and tombs on the great battles of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond that included dragons. Just as she loved Prince Viserys, so too did she love his dragon, Starfyre.

However, when the Prince perished, Daena felt even more lost than ever. She had made it clear that she would not wed another. How could she when the Prince Viserys was likely the best match she could ever hope for. Seemingly, it was a rational conclusion as no one pressured her to change her decision. Eventually, though, she found a different kind of solace in her brother, Vaemond.

A Life of Loneliness (425 AC - 439 AC)
Splitting her time between King's Landing and Driftmark, Daena focused on two things in life. The first was dragons, specifically, her dead love's Starfyre. Second, was the new Lord of Driftmark, her brother. Although she would never wed again, Daena was always welcomed home wherever she went and for however long. Yet, Daena kept her brother on a much tighter leash. It didn't help that Vaemond's wife, Laena Baratheon, convinced her brother to help her claim the dragon, Moonfyre. Daena had learned young that Vaemond could be loyal and trusting as a hound if provided with a guiding hand but it seemed not enough to have him do the same for her that he offered to his wife. Still, she has spent her life ensuring he did not forget who was in charge between the two of them. It was not out of spite or hatred, but out of necessity. In her mind, they were family and it was just another of many different kinds of relationships between siblings.

Most recently, Daena traveled to King's Landing both to learn more about dragons as well as to keep an ear to the ground on the developments of the Great Council.

Great Council (5th Month of 439 AC)
Daena traveled to King's Landing for the Great Council but also had alterior motives in mind. Most notably, she wishes to learn as much as she can about dragons, how to tame them, and the history of Starfyre.

Taming Nightwing (6th Month, 439 AC)
Although she had spent much of her time studying the materials she collected over the course of a couple of weeks, Daena was met with disappointment midway through her journey to Dragonstone. On the way, she saw Starfyre in the air and the dragon's new rider. It crushed her and Daena fell into a depressive state for many days. However, she kept her promise to Laena, her goodsister, and helped her tame the dragon, Tyraxes. Upon the woman's success, Daena spiraled into a seemingly bottomless pit of sobbing and misery. After a few days, Daena's state finally broke and she emerged from her quarters determined with a new goal in mind.

It took two weeks of familiarizing herself with Nightwing's tendencies, feeding her livestock, and gaining the confidence to actually attempt to tame the black beast. However, when Nightwing stared her down one morning, Daena knew the time had come. Then and there, declaring to survive the world as partners rather than master and beast, Nightwing lowered her head and the two were bonded.

Family

 * Lord Aurane Velaryon (375 - 437)
 * m. Nora Sunglass (375 - 389)
 * Daenaera Velaryon (389 - 408)
 * m. Baela Targaryen
 * Valaena Velaryon (392 - 418)
 * Aelora Hightower
 * m. Lord Leyton Hightower
 * House Hightower
 * Lysa Velaryon (398 - 430)
 * m. Lord Desmond Hewett
 * House Hewett
 * Vaella Velaryon
 * m. Symond Darry
 * House Darry
 * Daena Velaryon
 * Lord Vaemond Velaryon
 * m. Laena Baratheon
 * Laurel Velaryon
 * Hazel Velaryon
 * Aelinor Velaryon (431 - 431)
 * Sage Velaryon
 * Juniper Velaryon