Chapter 10
"I am sorry for putting such burden on you," the older woman spoke tiredly as she stared at the babe in her arm, another of her failures.
"I can see it, the demise of my family. Our House. And yet I am helpless to do anything about it. I have failed many people, my children, my husband, even you," she said, looking at the babe.
"Our family stands divided, and I feel myself running out of time," she said as she raised and looked at her shaking hand with curly skin.
"I had hopes Maegella could have been the bridge that I had failed to be, yet the Gods took her from me as well," she cursed the Gods.
"So, I beg you, if you are the salvation that I saw in my dreams, then save them," she said as a tear trickled down her face.
"Save our House. Save House Targary..."
0000
OTTO HIGHTOWER
Viserys Targaryen was not the Old King or his father the Spring Prince. He was a man untested and unmoulded by the crucible of hard times, he had won a throne in a Grand Council rather than a battle, as many Kings before him had. Yet his reign was still the most prosperous till date.
The lack of any major conflict and continued peace allowed the Crown to fill its coffers and spend gold and coin, languishing money without any worry.
"Where is my brother?" the King asked again as the Council gathered to deal with the day's affairs. The Grand tourney planned by the King required the Council's oversight, alongside a slew of other matters of grave importance.
"The Prince did not return to the castle last night, your grace," Ser Harrold Westerling, the lord commander of the Kingsguard, answered.
"He is still out in the city. Should I send men out for him once more?" The King seemed to think about it for a second as he rubbed his head, before waving his hand at the Lord Commander
"Let him be. But have him come to me as soon as he returns?" and it felt good to see the King's patience run thin with his brother.
Daemon Targaryen was a power-hungry and ambitious man with little regard for traditions, values, and decorum. He was a blight on his brother's rather prosperous reign, yet despite his efforts, Ott had not been able to displace him from the court, and the man remained attached to his brother like a leech, eating away at his scraps, thinking himself important beyond his status as nothing more than the spare he was destined to be.
From Maester of Coin to Maester of Laws to now being the Commander of the City Watch, Daemon remained attached to his brother's side as a lout, taking advantage of the affection the King held for his kin, and yet offering nothing but trouble and disgrace in return as he destroyed the Crown's relationship with the Vale by constantly insulting his Lady wife.
"Apart from the Prince, we seem to be missing our cup bearer as well," added Lord Beesbury, jollily. The aged Maester of Coin was not a fickle man. He was good with numbers, and though his words seemed malicious, he meant little by them, and the King took them in the stride they were offered.
"Rhaenyra is away on my direction," the King said with a smile. The mention of his sole child always brought joy to the King, for the King loved her dearly and was the one to name her 'The Realm's Delight.'
"Of course, your grace. I meant nothing by it," Lord Bessbury backed off, and the King waved it away as well, turning towards him when they were interrupted.
"Now..." but they were cut off as the doors to the Council room were flung open, and another person walked into the room. The Maester of the Ships was here. He had been told of his arrival but had believed the man would take a few hours to rest. Corlys Vealryon was used to defying expectations.
"Three of my ships were attacked and sunk in the Stepstones," he shouted angrily as he walked up to the table.
"Men and gold wasted, once more as the Crab Feeder chokes the trade routes through the Stepstones. Many times, I have asked the Crown to launch a campaign against this pirate, yet my call has gone unanswered," he said as he looked at the King, who had a grim expression on his face.
"What is to become of the ships and the men I have lost?" he asked heatedly as he stared at the King, an affront and insult which should never ever have been allowed yet the King was not the sort to rise to the bait, and challenge as he began calmly.
"You will be compensat..."
"I do not need compensation," Corlys Vealryon began as he lowered himself, his actions a dire insult as he cut off his own King.
"I want to wipe off the Crab feeder and his men from the Stepstones and hold them for our own," he said. A powerplay that would enrich House Velaryon further, which the King also saw.
"The Crab Feeder is no simple pirate, Corlys," the King cut in sharply, his own patience running thin as the man's pride roared forth, for while untested by trial and tribulations the King had once ridden Balerion, the Black Dread and was not one to back away from a challenge.
"You, of all men, should know that," the King answered.
"We cannot be sur..."
"We are sure that he is related to the Magisters of Myr and Tyrosh," Lord Lyonel Strong cut in, trying to shift away the Master of Ships's attention.
"Engaging so openly would put the Seven Kingdoms at war with the Triarchy, something that has never happened in all of our histories," the Master of Laws pointed out, and the master of Ships grit his teeth.
"Then what are we to do? Let these aggressions go unanswered. Let him attack our men, steal our gold without any consequence," the Master of Tides asked.
"No, that is not what I am suggesting Lord Corlys," Lyonel Strong replied with calmness, his voice calm and composed, there was little that could phase the man.
"But believe that perhaps the Crown could seek allies in this cause," he said, turning towards the King and giving the same suggestion as himself.
"Braavos, and Pentosh are affected by this pirate as well, making a common cause with these regions could allow us to combat this threat more effectively," he suggested.
"The King thought the same, my lord," he cut in as he gave Lord Corlys a look.
"Already missives have been sent, to see if we can make common ca....
ROARRRR!
And suddenly, they were interrupted by a massive roar, and it was not surprising to hear such roars. Prince Daemon and Princess Rhaenyra often took to the skies on their dragons, and such roars could oft be heard, yet still, despite having gotten used to it over the years, Otto still looked at the window uncomfortably and stilled as he recognized that neither Syrax nor Ceraxes.
No, this was a different beast.
"Your grace," he began as he inadvertently rose from his seat.
"What is it, Otto?" Viserys asked.
"You need to see this," he said, and the King frowned.
"What is going on? It's just a dragon's roar. Rhaenyra probably w..." The King stopped as he looked out the window and realized which dragon was roaring into the skies.
No, this was a dragon that had long lost its rider; this was the Silver dragon of the Good Queen Alyssane, and it was not riderless as it had been for nearly two decades.
Otto had not missed the person strapped to its back.
"Aego..." he heard the King gasp beside him.
0000
AEGON TARGARYEN
Aegon rode through the streets as they made their way to the Dragonpit, and he felt his heart racing with indecision. The Dragon pit was as large and ominous as he had expected it to be. Built on Visenya's Hill, the massive dome-like structure was a home to the dragons of House Targaryen to prevent the young ones from being preyed upon by the wild dragons and to protect the city dwellers from their wrath.
"Have you ever seen a dragon?" Rhaenyra asked from the carriage, and he hesitated to answer, for the truth was yes, he had. He remembered it as clear as day, sitting in the lap of the Queen, watching her play her harp for her dragon, and he did not know whether the dragon remembered it.
"I was told that Queen Alyssane took me flying with her on her last visit to Runestone, but I was very young then," he replied, not lying or telling the whole truth, something which was not overlooked by the Princess's friend.
"Then you must not remember much of it," Rhaenyra began excitedly.
"They are so magnificent. If it were up to me, I would ride on Syrax all day," she began to blurt out excitedly as they came to a halt infront of the massive dome-like structure.
"Flying in the air, looking down at the city, it's an otherworldly sensation. Perhaps you could join me on Syrax. The Dragonkeepers said that she was large enough to saddle two," she asked and he smiled.
"I am thankful for the opportunity, but I am afraid I will have to decline," and he saw her mood sour at that as she turned animatedly towards her friend who was coming down from the carriage.
"Look at what you have done, my dear Alicent?" Rhaenyra complained, and the dark-haired girl frowned.
"What have I done?" she asked, bemused and taken aback by the sudden accusation.
"You have corrupted my cousin. And for that, I punish you to ride with me on Syrax," she said as Aegon walked forward and helped her down the wooden stairs, for Lady Alicent, unlike Rhaenyra, was not in riding gear but in a gown.
She thanked him as they walked into the dome, and Aegon felt his steps grow heavy as his anxiety grew and grew with every step he took.
"I am afraid I will have to decline. I like my feet on the ground, thank you very much," Alicent replied softly, and Rhaenyra rolled her eyes.
"Just once, I promise you it will be fun," she said as she turned towards the Dragonkeeper and spoke in High Valyrian.
"Bring me Syrax. I wish to go on a ride," she ordered.
"As you say, Princess," and with that, the man barked orders at his men as they stood in the center of the dome. It was a behemoth with cave-like cisterns leading in various directions.
"Do you speak High Valyrian?" Rhaenyra asked him as the deafening roar of a dragon shook the entire ground.
"I do," he replied seconds later as another roar erupted, racing his heart.
"Good," and then he watched as the dragon keepers led a dragon out of one of the caves.
"Syrax," Rhaenyra called out joyously as she ran towards the giant beast. She was one of the youngest dragons but still cut a towering figure as it gave a small roar and lowered her head as Rhaenyra rubbed her hand over her face.
"Come join me," she said as she beckoned them over. He saw Lady Alicent back away, and Rhaenyra rolled her eyes.
"I promise it will not bite you, Alicent," she said, but the dark red-haired girl gulped down nervously and shook her head as another roar shook the ground.
"I believe I am fine here," she said as Rhaenyra sighed and turned towards him.
"Come on, cousin. Don't be as dour as Alicent. Come join me," she said, and he hesitated, leaving Alicent alone. Indecision and anxiety laced his own heart.
"Go, please. Do not stay here on my behalf," Alicent said, and he nodded as he stepped forward. The brown dragon halted and turned his gaze towards him. Their eyes met, and Daemon could feel it the beast reaching out, and then he came to halt a step away from it as Rhaenyra smiled.
"Come Syrax, he is blood. Family, no harm," she said gruffly, and the dragon nodded as it lowered her head. In his mesmerized state, Aegon missed the screams of the Dragonkeepers when suddenly he heard a whisper in his head as he felt his vision shift as it had all those years ago.
ROARRRRR
'You are finally here.'
BOOOM!
0000
ALICENT HIGHTOWER
Alicent Hightower valued her life, so she was not overly fond of gigantic beasts that could devour her in a single bite, or trounce him with a single swing of their wing or leg.
And so, when her near and dear friend asked her to accompany her on a journey through the clouds, she declined. Not that she did not like the notion. To be honest, she loved it. She loved that in that moment, she could be free, take to the skies with her, and experience something few ever had.
Yet she resisted until today, and even today, as she stood in the Dragonpit, she watched Rhaenyra petting Syrax and beckoning her cousin Aegon to do the same.
Aegon himself had seemed a bit dazed to her throughout the journey, and even now as he stood near Syrax his eyes were dazed, as another roar rocked the whole building sending a shiver down her spine.
She tried to calm her down and pray as she nibbled on the skin of her thumb. Suddenly, she saw Aegon's gaze shift, his eyes widened, and another shout broke out.
"Run! My Lady, Get Back, A Dragon has broken loose out of its binds!" A Dragonkeeper screamed as roars shook the building, and Syrax roared despite Rhaenyra's attempts and positioned itself infront of her as the ground shook, and Alicent stumbled down.
"AHHH!" She fell down as she heard the screams of dragonkeepers and the sound of metal clanking. A mighty shadow came over her, halting her heart and breath. A dragon tumbled forward out of the crack, its massive body headed straight for her. As she saw the beast barrelling towards her, she closed her eyes and made a final prayer.
"STOP!" she heard a familiar voice scream in High Valyrian, and the tumbling stopped.
"Calm down," and when no pain came, she opened her eyes and found herself staring at the back of Prince Aegon, who stood infront of her like a wall, hands raised as he stared at the mighty beast that was about to trounce in the eye.
The dragon scales were silvery white, shimmering even in the darkness of the pit as they hid the silver skin underneath for which it had been named. She recognized the dragon, the whole realm did and after this was the dragon of the Good Queen herself.
"Calm down, I am here. I am here," he repeated slowly, and as the Dragonkeepers tried to force it back in its chains, the dragon roared, and she saw it open its maw as the temperature in the room rose.
"GET BACK!" he said to the dragonkeepers.
"Get away from her. I will handle this," he said. They shared a glance as they backed off, and the dragon lowered its head once more, staring Aegon in the eye.
"Calm Down Silverwing. I am here!"
0000
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