Laena Longwaters

Laena Longwaters is Ser Vance Longwater's only daughter. She is sworn to Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, and serves as the senior member of her Dragonmaids.

Leal and diligent, Laena also doubles as Rhaenys' closest confidante and, occasionally, her dragon's caretaker.

Appearance and Character
Laena has long, black hair usually kept in a tightly bound ponytail; thin but severe eyebrows; green, downturned eyes; a medium, bulbous nose; full lips; and a lithe, almost wiry physique. Preferring mobility over optimal coverage, she wears a pixane and hauberk over leather, with steel vambraces and steel scale armour around her stomach for added protection.

The most senior Dragonmaid is stern but experimental. She is vicious in combat and curt in conversation with strangers. She frequently refers to her own "dragon heritage," and has admitted, on several occasions, to preferring the company of "dragon bloods" over others.

History
Laena was born in 384 AC to Ser Vance Longwaters, a career knight, and his wife, Jeyne Longwaters. Laena grew up inspired by her father's weekly bedtime stories. He would tell her of heroic knights fighting in wars and tournaments, and of valiant heroes earning nothing but praise and prestige from the realm and beyond. In her mind, every last knight was her father. On her eighth nameday, however, it became quickly apparent to Laena that knights were the scum of the earth. She was to receive an especially riveting story that night from her father, as was tradition, and waited several hours for him to get home. It was her mother who arrived first, hours after he was suppose to come home. He had supposedly fled the city for good, with her younger brother in tow.

To survive on their own, Laena and Jeyne 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 two women 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; Laena directed what few retainers her family had kept on to escort her around the city on personal errands: visiting the Dragonpit, attending court at the Red Keep, and, amongst other things, beating up boys who pretended to be knights.

Laena first met Rhaenys when the Black Princess was just over 11 – Laena was 16. They were both at court on the day the King presented Rhaenys before the realm. A couple weeks later, they met more intimately at the Dragonpit. Rhaenys had noticed Vhaegon's relative ease around Laena, and the two struck up conversation about the superiority of their shared heritage. The moment Laena had boasted about her prowess with daggers and her increasing proficiency with spears, the Black Princess immediately declared Laena her "new best friend in King's Landing," making it Laena's "duty to teach [Rhaenys] what [she] knew" whenever Rhaenys was in town.

The first Dragonmaid was just over 20 when Rhaenys first formed the controversial group, though Laena would fast become something more than a simple sworn shield to her Princess. Following the fallout between Rhaenys and her twin brother, Rhaegar, the two women became lovers, and, for a while, it worked. Passions that sparked during the day were often addressed at night, fiercely. "Extended" shifts were the norm. But as the years went by, Laena began to chafe under the secrecy of her relationship with Rhaenys. After their own falling out, the two eventually chose to (largely) end their sexual relationship, valuing instead the continuation of their longstanding companionship.

Princess Rhaenys not only kept Laena on as her most senior Dragonmaid, but also turned the warrior woman into her most trusted confidante. Even the large and mercurial Vhaegon, after a dozen close calls, came to trust Laena. If there was ever a true "dragon maid," she was it. And as the group grew larger, so too did her responsibilities, becoming its commander in all but name.

Laena has since trained, protected, and consoled the Black Princess whenever called upon. The foremost Dragonmaid has also taken the time to practice with her sworn sisters, honing their joint effectiveness and combat skills, though not without some difficulty. Outside of training, she is wholly reticent towards them, as if they were strangers, for in her wyvern green eyes, they are merely maids, and nothing more.

Family

 * Ser Vance Longwaters, b. 353
 * m. Jeyne Longwaters, b. 361
 * Laena Longwaters, b. 384
 * Ser Laenor Longwaters, b. 388

Household/NPCs

 * Ser Vance Longwaters
 * Lady Jeyne Longwaters
 * Ser Laenor Longwaters