[A/N: This might be the only chapter for the day unless I can sneak one out during work (might be short if I do.), Thank you all for the support you've given me. I find this story is received better than The Black Lord. I will warn you all, however. I will put this one in a slight hold while I progress The Black Lord further, at least until it is at 60 or so chapters.
Thank you all.]
(Aerion's POV)
"That was it?" Rhaenyra asked me
I nodded, "Yes." I said as I sat in front of the fireplace, "That was it."
It was days after Aegon and I went to check on Daeron; I had dropped the Prince off back at King's Landing before I went to Runestone for a bit, a party awaiting me in celebration of me becoming a Father, or at least will become one in the future. Fortunately, Willam had told Rhaenyra about my quick visit prior to he and the others sailing back home so she would become aware of it.
I told her that all I did was check on her siblings, and that was it.
"Sweet Helaena...." she said softly, "That poor girl..."
"Yeah.." I said as I leaned back
"I was worried about you." She told me
I looked at her, her face was full of concern. I could imagine she did not rest well the entire time I was gone.
"I'm sorry." I told her, "They're my cousins, Rhaenyra, I care for them. You know that."
She looked at the fireplace, "I know they're your family." she said, "But.....You have one here as well..."
I nodded, "I know." I said, "But can I at least show them that I care? They're your siblings."
She nodded slowly, "Yes, it's fine." she said softly
I reached over to her and grabbed her hand, "I won't leave you again." I told her softly, "Not unless I need to."
She looked at me, "And when will you need to?" She asked
"Time will tell." I said with a smile, "But for now, I'll be here. With you."
She smiled slightly, "O-Okay..." She said
I leaned back and sighed, "Your Father was overjoyed when I told him the news." I said, "It pains me that you will not see him."
"I want to." She said, "But you know why."
"It's okay." I said, "I understand."
"How were they?" She asked me
I looked at her, "Who?"
"M-My brothers." She said
I looked back at the fire, "Aegon is the same as always." I said, "Aemond is.....bitter....But Daeron is.....good. It is almost like he was not corrupted. He is a good kid."
"I see." She said, "That's good."
"On the morrow, I will venture into the island's mountains, it is about time I take in its full glory." I said suddenly
"What?" She said with surprise
I shrugged, "I'm curious, that is all." I said with a slight smile
"Be careful." She said, "There are wild dragons about."
"I'll have Vermithor, I'll be fine." I told her with a chuckle, "Worry not."
"But I will worry, Aerion." She said seriously, "How can I not worry about you?"
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Vermithor slightly rumbled as I climbed up the slope, feeling the cold mist of the mountain.
I looked up to see the Bronze Fury sitting patiently at the top of a nearby cliff, watching me. He had flown up there after I landed him at the base of these cliffs, deciding to climb them myself. It did not take long but the fact that my own dragon was just watching me do it, probably judging, kind unsettled me.
I reached the top, next to the cliff where Vermithor was at. I was at one of the mountains of Dragonstone, a few miles away from the castle as I looked up at the sea that was far away.
"Ah...." I said as I patted my hands, "There you go...."
I stood there, taking in the sight of the island. This was not the highest peak but I was still pretty high up there. I wanted to test the abilities of my legs, and see if I could traverse such a rocky terrain. I am from the Vale, I could handle it. I was right, but Dragonstone's terrain is much stranger than the Vale. There is an odd heat coming from crevices at times that put me off.
Well, it is a volcanic island.
I looked up to Vermithor, "What are you looking at?" I asked in High Valyrian as I chuckled, "Just watching me? You strange old fool."
He shook his head and vocalized loudly, his sounds echoing through the air.
I patted my shirt as I walked to my side, looking down the side of the mountain, "Yea...." I said, "I get it too....."
There was something liberating....about doing this. I would often do this back at the Vale; climb the mountains while Vermithor watches. He's clearly used to me doing this but every time he just watches, I always feel uneasy. Maybe it is because I feel like an old man is watching, judging every step I take, thinking he could do better. Well, Vermithor is an old man, clearly. He was the Old King's mount, his ferocity is Jaehaerys's personified Ire. But now, he was just an old man stuck with this Young Targaryen.
I looked up to the sky, seeing the heavy clouds right above us as Vermithor followed my gaze.
"Different from home, huh?" I said quietly
Suddenly, Vermithor let out a deep growling, immediately straightening up and flapped his wings. In a swift motion, he took flight momentarily and landed next to me, the athleticism of this old man was astonishing but I was more surprised at why he was suddenly alarmed.
He walked around me as he looked up into the skies, letting out a deep growl as he opened his mouth, his eyes in a vicious glare. One thing was for certain.
He was defending me.
That could only mean one thing; Dragon. But of all Dragons...
Vermithor was arguably the fiercest and largest dragon on Dragonstone when I first claimed him. None of the others, whether wild or not, would've posed a threat to him considering his ferocious nature and size. He was incredibly aggressive and most dragons would not dare to challenge him. The thing is, he's been in the presence of Wild Dragons and not once did he act like this.
I took a step back and placed my hand on the handle of my sword. I know I won't do much against a dragon with a simple blade, but it was instinct.
I then heard the loud flapping of wings and a deeper growl than Vermithor's.
I looked up to the skies and saw a massive shadow through the clouds; it was dark and pitcher than black.
Vermithor slammed his wings and let out a massive roar, deafening me as the force caused me to slightly stumble. He looked up at the shadow that circled above us, high in the sky.
I narrowed my eyes, "What the fuck..." I said as I began to feel an odd sense of anxiety
I then saw the clouds slightly part, seeing a pitch-black tail as the wings flapped heavily. I noticed that Vermithor opened his maw and I saw the bright glow of his flames.
"Lykiri...." I said as I raised my arm
I looked back up and saw a hint of green, as a vicious rumbling was heard.
"What the hell...." I said as I drew my sword out of pure instinct, "What the fuck is that?"
Vermithor then leaned his head forward and opened his maw, breathing fire into the air at the massive shadow.
"Fuck!" I said as I ran to his side and jumped up
I caught the side of his saddle and climbed up, my sword still drawn. I felt the heat of Vermithor's flames as it raged on in the air.
I heard a loud roar, as deafening as Vermithor's as the clouds parted and I saw a massive figure, as large or larger than my own dragon.
It was a massive dragon, pitch-black in its scales with glowing green eyes as it flew past the cliff we were at, glaring at us.
Vermithor roared at it as his maw smoked due to his flame breath.
"Easy, old boy!" I said in high valyrian before I looked at the dragon flying away
I had a strange sense of anxiety, I did not know what to make of this sudden beast appearing before us.
"Seven hells...." I muttered as I wiped sweat off my forehead,
"What was that thing?"