[Runestone, The Vale]
As the sun shines through the window of the castle of Runestone, Maegor sat upon a chair in front of a table, just right besides the said window. On top of the table were a couple of things, a thick book, pieces of scrolls, ink, and a feather for writing.
Sitting in front of him was Heleana, seemingly concentrating on a scroll just right in front of her, with ink dirtying her hand. The thick book was opened, revealing a writing system that has almost been lost to time, and only a couple of people knew how to read and write it. It was the runic writing system, and right now, Maegor was teaching his wife about it.
"And this is….?" Helaena asked, her blackened finger pointing at the book.
"That's [ᚷᛁᚱᛚ]." said Maegor patiently. "It means 'Girl'."
"So if you write that, a girl will appear?" asked Heleana innocently.
"No, my dear..." Maegor rolled his eyes. "A girl will not appear if I write that. Well, I never actually tried it, but I doubt something will happen."
"Well, try it then." said Heleana with an expectant look, seemingly dropping a blank scroll in front of Maegor, along with the ink and feather. "Maybe something will happen."
Maegor just looked at Helaena in amusement and sighed. He grabbed the feather, dipped it in ink, and wrote the said runic word. Once he finished, just as predicted, nothing happened.
"See?" said Maegor. "Nothing happened."
"Then what about this?" asked Helaena again, pointing at another runic word.
"That's [ᛒᛖᚢᛏᛁᚠᚢᛚ]." answered Maegor again. "It means beautiful."
"What happens if you write it?" asked Helaena curiously. "Will the scroll become beautiful?"
"No…" Maegor said patiently.
"Then what happens if you write it on my face? Would I become more beautiful?" she asked again.
"It will, but it's a painful process." said Maegor, opening up his left arm. Tattooed runes filled his biceps and triceps, all coloured black. "When I was writing these runes on myself, I was getting in and out of consciousness. Twas' not a pleasant experience."
"A pity…" Helaena murmured sadly.
"Why do you ask? You're already beautiful, we are of Targaryen blood." Maegor asked in confusion.
"I was just curious. The mask of failure could not be cured after all…" Helaena answered, seemingly back to her stoic and quiet self. She continued to write runic words to her scrolls, seemingly already proficient in some of it, but she still has a lot to learn.
Suddenly, a knock came from the door of the solar, Maegor turned around to it, and spoke loudly. "Come in."
The door opened, revealing a man with bronze plates. It was Ser Gerold, Maegor's uncle.
"Something the matter?" asked Maegor.
"Nephew, I think you want to hear this." answered Gerold. "Some smallfolk were caught trying to sell some… highly valuable items."
Maegor could only raise his brow. "So? If it's theirs, then we have no right to take it from them."
"It's not theirs." answered Gerold. "It's Dragon eggs."
Maegor frowned at Gerold's words. He stood up from his seat, Helaena seemingly not caring at all. "Are you sure? Where did they get that?"
"On the mountains," said Gerold. "In a cave…"
"A cave?"
"Just… Come with me, nephew."
—
Maegor and Gerold walked through the now busy streets of Runestone. Many Sheep were passing through, seemingly going to either get sheared, or slaughtered for their meat. Sounds of chopping wood also could be heard from a workshop here and there.
About 15 minutes of walking later, Maegor and his uncle arrived at the guard station, there was a group of smallfolk standing outside of the post, and a bag of 'something' was on the ground.
The guard's backs straightened up when they saw Maegor enter their vision, and they're seemingly nervous around him.
"My lord, we have caught some men trying to sell dragon eggs in the market," said the guard.
Maegor just nodded at his words, and he turned towards the smallfolk. "Where did you get it?"
"M-M'Lord, have mercy…" the man in ragged shirt pleaded. "I-I found the egg at a cave on the mountains nearby. I-I swear m'lord, I didn't know it was a dragon egg! I thought it was just some peculiar stone!"
Maegor crouched down towards the bag, and he opened it. He saw three eggs, one was white in color, one was yellow, and the other was blue. When he touched it, it hadn't turned into a stone yet, it was still a proper egg.
"Where exactly? Near Redfort? Ironoaks? Old Anchor?" asked Maegor again, still examining the dragon eggs.
"N-Near Redfort, m'lord…"
"You saw more of these there?"
"N-No… There were only those three…"
Maegor hummed. "Gerold, give the man some coins for his losses."
"What?" asked Gerold, confused.
"Give him some coins." Maegor answered, grabbing the bag. "But let him stay here first. Search his house, I will go to the place he's talking about to check if he isn't lying or not. Once I'm back and find no traces of lies, you can let him go with the coins."
Gerold could only raise his brow, but he didn't object. "Fine."
"T-Thank you m'lord!" the smallfolk exclaimed.
"You aren't free yet," said Maegor. "Stay here, I will be back shortly."
Then, Maegor rode to the outskirts of the town, before blowing his horn, calling Vermithor towards his location.
Vermithor landed in front of him, the ground shook as his gigantic self touched the green plains. Maegor quickly climbed to his back, and he whispered to his dragon to bring him to his nest, and the dragon obeyed.
—
Not a day later, Maegor came back from his trip to Vermithor's nest. As always, he only found Silverwing sleeping inside the cave, and when he searched the place, he found no more dragon eggs.
He then rode towards the guard post again, freeing the smallfolk, and then, he came back to Runestone, to think.
Maegor entered his room, where he saw Helaena reading a book while drinking some… milk? Helaena turned towards Maegor when he entered, and she saw the bag in his hand.
"Are those dragon eggs?" she asked calmly, closing the book she's reading.
"It is." Maegor nodded, putting it gently on the table. "Three to be exact. But it's quite surprising to see a batch of eggs from Silverwing. She's almost… 100 years old…"
"Miracles eggs." Helaena said casually. She examined the egg, spinning it around. "And what are we going to do with it?"
"I don't know to be quite honest with you." Maegor dropped to his chair. "I wanted to make a hatchery here, but it'll be quite a while till it's finished. I'm afraid it'll turn to stone by the time the hatchery can be ready to use."
"Make a hatchery here?" Helaena asked. "The Vale is quite cold."
"I know, that's why it'll take a bit more time to build. Runes can fix that problem…"
"That is one way to do it…" Helaena murmured. "To Dragonstone then?"
Maegor hummed. "Yes. to Dragonstone, I haven't seen my half-brothers yet either, so I guess it'll be a productive journey."
"Then I will come." Helaena released the egg, putting it back in the bag. "I will ask the maids to prepare our clothes."
"You're going on dragonback?" Maegor asked, quite surprised. "It's been a while since you've ridden."
"All the more reason to go." she smiled, before leaving Maegor alone, to pack up their things.