(Aerion's POV)
It was the following day, I had woken up early and told Rhaenyra that I wanted to leave for Dragonstone later that afternoon. She stayed in bed after a whole night of intimacy, saying she was a bit spent.
Of course she was.
I made my way down the halls, heading towards Baela and Rhaena's chambers, to check on them.
As I reached the door, I noticed it was already opened.
"Hm?" I said as I opened it, "Sisters...are you-"
I walked in and saw Daemon sitting on the bed as Baela and Rhaena sat next to him.
He looked at me with surprise, "What is it?"
I stood in the middle of the room, looking at my sisters, "I came to check on the girls." I said seriously, "To see if they've eaten yet."
"They haven't." Daemon stood up as he grabbed their hands, "We're about to go eat."
I nodded, "Fine." I said
"Brother, you should join us." Baela said, "Grandmother is going to be at the table."
"If he doesn't want to, he doesn't have to." Daemon said as he walked past me, pulling them alongside him
"Wait." I called
I turned to see that he had stopped, the girls giving me a worried look.
"What is it?" Daemon asked, "I can't see my own daughters now?"
I gave him a scowl, "On the contrary." I said, "I want you to see them. But that's not it. Rhaena wanted to go to the Pit today and I was going to take her."
Daemon looked at Rhaena, "What for?" He asked
"U-Uhm...." Rhaena said, "I...."
"You're not thinking of trying to claim one of those mediocre dragons, aren't you?" He told her, "None of them are worthy of my daughter..."
Rhaena looked down, "Well...."
"She can go if she wants to." I told him
"Very well." Daemon said, "After breakfast."
"Fine." I said as I watched them walk out of the room, "Tch...."
"Prick..."
*****************************************
"Why are you so mad at him?" Rhaena asked as we walked towards the Dragonpit
I saw Vermithor slowly get up from his sleeping position, letting out a loud grumble. He began to walk towards us as I stopped and looked at Rhaena.
"It's complicated." I said as I looked at her, "Father and I....."
"I understand." She said softly as she looked away, "You hate him..."
"No...I....." I said as I sighed, "Well, the truth is I don't know if I do....."
"I missed him." Rhaena said, "I want to spend time with him."
"That's fine, Rhaena." I said as I patted her shoulder, "I'm sorry if you think I will keep him from you. I just.....I've been trying to be a good brother this past year...."
"You have, Aerion..." She said as she looked at me, "I love you so much, I couldn't ask for a better brother."
She hugged me as I let out a sigh and hugged her back, "Yea....." I said softly, "I know, kid..."
I felt as Vermithor snorted loudly, his entire figure dwarfing us as he vocalized loudly.
She then pulled away, looking at Vermithor nervously, "I-I....Ah...."
"Come." I grabbed her hand, "Let's go for a ride."
"You....wait....no..." She said as she shook her head, "I can't...."
"Do not be afraid." I said softly as I raised my other hand towards Vermithor, "You need to experience it at least once before claiming a dragon. Get a feel for it. And between the two of us, I plan to do this with Visenya when she's a bit older.....don't tell Rhaenyra though..."
I looked over at Vermithor as he nudged my hand with his snout, snorting loudly.
"Embrot..."
He slowly turned to his right and lowered himself to the ground.
"Come." I said to Rhaena as I pulled her alongside
"A-Aerion, no...I'm scared..." She said
I chuckled as I gently picked her up, "There is no need." I said as I held her in my arms while I climbed up onto Vermithor's saddle
As I sat on it, I placed Rhaena in front of me, patting her head.
"So high up...." She said softly as Vermithor straightened up
I strapped myself to the saddle and reached for the extra strap for a passenger that doesn't have the rider belt on.
"Here you go..." I said as I ran the belt in front of Rhaena and secured her, "Alright, you ready?"
"N-No...I'm nervous, Aerion.." She said as she clutched onto my arm
"You're a Targaryen, Rhaena." I told her, "There is no need to be afraid of taking to flight. Sooner or later, you'll be doing this....."
"But...." She started
"Relax." I told her with a chuckle, "We'll be fine....just a few laps around the Blackwater, that's all."
"Okay..." She said
I nodded as Vermithor turned around to face the bay, shaking his head as he rumbled loudly.
"Vermithos, Soves!"
*************************************************
"What in the seven hells do you think you're doing?" Daemon exclaimed as he walked over to us
An hour later, I had landed Vermithor back to the Dragonpit's entrance, dismounting him as I gently helped Rhaena come down.
I looked at him, "What?" I asked, "I can't spend time with my sister?"
He was standing there, giving me a scowl as Baela stood next to him, "By taking her to the skies? Are you fucking mad?" He asked
I held Rhaena's hand, "She deserves to go on a ride once in a while." I told him, "Have you not taken her on Caraxes? Or had Lady Laena not taken her on Vhagar?"
He took a step forth, "No." He said, "And that is no business of yours..."
I glared at him, "Just as seeing my daughter is no business of yours..." I said, "I've been taking care of Rhaena all this time while you were in Pentos."
"For a good reason." Daemon said, "One that doesn't concern you and never will."
"Oh, I bet you tell yourself that when it comes to me." I said with a chuckle, "But you know what? It doesn't matter. I took her for a ride, that's all."
"Please don't fight...." Baela said
"We already did, sister." I told her, "And I won."
"Ha!" Daemon laughed with a smirk, "As if blunt swords count for anything."
"Well draw your sword, Daemon." I said seriously as Vermithor growled
"That's enough of you two." I heard a voice say
I turned to see Princess Rhaenys walk up to us, putting her gloves on as she was wearing her riding outfit.
"Princess." I said
"Aerion." She said as she stood in between us, "Daemon, Baela and I are going to go for a few laps. Moondancer is large enough to ride, she took her all the way here, if it isn't a problem."
"Hm..." Daemon said as he looked at Baela, "Is that so?"
"She's barely big to hold me though." Baela said with a flustered smile
"Nevertheless, the more experience she has, the better." Rhaenys said, "As for Rhaena....well, it seems she already took her own ride. Shame, I was going to have her on Meleys, but I suppose Vermithor will do."
"Y-Yea..." She said as she slowly walked towards Rhaenys
"Wait." Daemon said, "Rhaena, come here, my dear."
I saw as Rhaena walked over to her, "Yes, Father?" She said
Daemon patted her head and gave her a slight smile, "How about we take a ride on Caraxes?" He asked
"I-Is it okay?" she asked as she glanced back at me, "Won't he get mad?"
"Nonsense." Rhaenys said, "My Father was Caraxes's first rider, he used to take me on rides atop him all the time. Just like Daemon's mother took him as a babe atop Meleys. These dragons are used to it.....well, I don't know about my Grandsire's.....well, I suppose Vermithor has mellowed out since being claimed by Aerion."
"Yes, he seems more calm." Daemon said, "But I can feel the rage coming from him.....No...."
"Both of them."