(Third Person POV)
[A Couple Years Ago, Months After Sylas Drakkengard's Birth]
Drakken raised an eyebrow, "A portrait?" He said, a bit baffled, "You want to commission a portrait?"
He was sitting down in the table, taking a few bites of a piece of bread he had in his hand. Across from him, Daranne Drakkengard was sitting down while drinking a bit of wine. Mya and Maegelle sat next to her while they ate their breakfast.
"Yes." Daranne said with a smile, "I would love to. Wouldn't it be fun?"
"I did one with Riktor when he was Sylas's age." Mya said with a smile, "I think it is a good idea."
"Yeah, well, you went ahead and did it without talking to me." Drakken frowned, "Bringing this one's royal painter or whatever he was."
He gestured at Maegelle who was a bit taken aback.
"U-Uh....well, he was travelling through the Riverlands and my Mother was here when he arrived." Maegelle said, "So I did not think it was that big of a deal."
"It is not." Mya said, "Pay no mind to him."
"Well, Roland is coming back from what my Father tells me." Daranne said as she showed him a letter in her hand, "He was in Casterly Rock for a few months, making portraits of my Mother and my brothers. My Father sent him here so he can make one of Sylas and I."
Drakken looked away, holding back a scowl, "You're going to what, sit there for hours until the fool finishes?" He asked, "The boy will cry."
"No, Roland has great memory." Daranne said, "That is why he is considered a great portrait painter. Only for around an hour or so.....he'll finish the rest, I promise."
"He's right, My Lord." Mya nodded, "It didn't take long for me. He did finish it a few hours after I left with Riktor and it came out great. You still haven't seen it, you keep refusing."
"I don't see a point." Drakken grumbled, "You waste gold to paint something so useless."
"It is not useless." Maegelle said, "Portraits are ways to remember someone, memories of the person that could be long gone. There is a portrait of the Conqueror and his two wives that is stored in the Red Keep."
"I don't care about that cunt." Drakken said
"Please?" Daranne said, "I beg you, please let me have this."
Drakken looked at her, seeing the genuine desire in her eyes.
He then rolled his own eyes, "Tch, fine." He said as he stood up, "But just one."
"Only one is all I ask." Daranne said with a smile, "Thank you!"
Drakken waved her off, "Yea yea." he said as he began to walk away, "Sure..."
Daranne stood up and walked around the table, catching him with a hug, which made him stop and scowl.
"What is it?" He asked
Daranne smiled and looked up at him, "I mean it, My Lord." She said softly, "Thank you."
"I heard you." Drakken said, "Why must you repeat yourself."
"Maegelle is right." Daranne said as she pulled away, "I want something to show Sylas when he grows up, so he can remember that his Mother loved him."
Drakken blinked, "Why do you speak as if you will not be here with us." he said, "Don't speak that way, woman."
She chuckled, "I don't mean it that way." She said, "But he is to be your son, your perfect little warrior, is he not? He is meant to be Riktor's partner in battle, right? Should he be too absorbed in it....and lose himself, mayhaps his Mother's love will keep him in line....or something like that...."
"Hm." Drakken said as he faced away, "I guess so."
"Would you let me....." Daranne said softly, "Thank you personally?"
She grabbed his hand and blushed, looking at him with a hint of lust in her eyes.
Drakken looked at Maegelle, "Get the boys together." He said, "Daranne and I are going to be busy."
"Don't bother us."
********************
[Back To The Present]
Drakken opened his eyes as he laid next to Maegelle in her bed, "A dream....?" He said as he rubbed his eyes, "A memory...."
"D-Drakken?" Maegelle stirred awake, looking at him, "What is it?"
He shook his head, "Nothing." he said, "Go back to sleep."
"Okay..." Maegelle slowly closed her eyes, "You do the same...."
Drakken gently patted her rear, "Yes." He said, "I just need to get something to drink."
"No more wine at this hour..." Maegelle said softly
"Water." Drakken told her as he sat up, "I hate the taste of wine when I am drowsy."
"Alright...." Maegelle said as she adjusted herself, "I want you back with me soon...."
"I will..." Drakken said as he got off the bed, "Don't worry."
He walked a couple of steps and suddenly, he disappeared from Maegelle's chambers, something she was already used to. She immediately drifted back to sleep, worrying about nothing.
Across the wing of the castle where her chambers were, Drakken appeared in the unoccupied chambers that belonged to Daranne Drakkengard.
He stood there, staring at the bed, a serious look on his face.
After the incident, Drakken gave clear orders to his servants to always keep the chambers in top shape, claiming that nobody would replace Daranne in her chambers, leaving the room to be unoccupied by anyone for the past few months.
Drakken looked to the side, catching sight of a specific object on the wall, "There you are...." He said as he walked over to the wall, "You were here all along....."
He stopped a few feet away from the wall, seeing that hanging on it there was a large portrait of Daranne holding a young Sylas. Daranne was wearing a black dress with golden embroidery in the portrait, the details were unlike anything Drakken had seen in this world. Her blonde hair was done justice, the color glowed brightly even in the shadows. And her beautiful emerald eyes were perfectly replicated by the painter.
The Young Sylas had a serious frown on his face, wearing a black and gold outfit while Daranne smiled warmly. The entire portrait radiated a warmth that even Drakken felt.
This is the portrait that Drakken remembered Daranne asking him to have made for her. This is the same portrait that was commissioned for her, a Mother and Son portrait.
Drakken reached for the portrait slowly, "Hm...."
He gently touched the hair on the portrait, running his finger down the portrait.
"Daranne...." His voice was soft
He suddenly remembered the words that Maegelle used on him all those years ago:
"Portraits are ways to remember someone, memories of the person that could be long gone."
Drakken closed his eyes and all he could think of is Daranne's face, her beautiful smile and the way her hair flowed in the breeze of the spring.
He then pulled his hand away and clenched his fists, opening his eyes that had a sinister and malicious look to them. The mere thought of what he lost gave Drakken nothing but anger, filling his heart with hatred.
"Portraits.....huh?" He said as he turned around and began to walk away,
"Portraits...."