In The Sea
103 AC
After expressing my gratitude to them, the whale sharks acknowledged my thanks by swimming around me several times before descending into the depths to rest. I then turned my attention to the pod of dolphins who had done the majority of the work. I had assigned different tasks to the two species: the dolphins were responsible for locating and delivering the eggs to the whale sharks, who would then transport them to me.
However, there are no burn marks on them. This just proves that the dolphins in this world are as intelligent as those in my previous world. They are regarded as the smartest sea creatures for good reason. Once I communicated that I would place eggs down where we were to meet my sister, and they understood, I began swimming towards Laena with a pod of dolphins trailing behind me, making excited noises.
After arriving at the same spot a few minutes later than yesterday, I placed eggs near the seashore and instructed some smaller fish to watch over them. As I ascended, I noticed the pod encircling Laena and performing breaches around her. I swam out of the water and attempted to mimic them but failed spectacularly. Of course, it was my intention to fail, not that I couldn't do what the dolphins were doing.
"Here they are, Laena. What do you think about them? Aren't they playful?" I asked my older sister as I frolicked with the dolphins. Glancing at our father, I noticed his initial shock at seeing his children playing with dolphins. However, after a while, realizing the pod was not harming us, he smiled, his expression a blend of pride and relief. Laena was the happiest of us all, looking as if she had found the best companions in the world.
"As I've mentioned before, you're the best brother in the world, Laenor," Laena said, trying to splash the dolphins back. Even with a mentality far older than my current physical form, it still fills me with a certain joy in my core to hear that I'm the best. "Come play with us, Laenor," Laena called out amidst her play with the dolphins. I swam towards her, behaving as one would at this age.
In about half an hour, judging by the sun's position, my sister and I emerged from the water to find our father waiting for us patiently. We made our way to the spot where he had been keeping watch over us.
"Did you two make friends with the 'Silver Swimmers'?" Father asked, curiosity lacing his tone. "I didn't see them yesterday. When do you two usually meet them?" I mused that dolphins here were called 'Silver Swimmers'—a straightforward and fitting name, if ever there was one.
"They encountered us at the end of our time yesterday. Laena and I were looking underwater when we stumbled upon them, playing amongst themselves, Father. So today, we invited them to the surface of the sea," I explained, concealing my dives from my parents. Laena nodded absentmindedly, already preoccupied with thoughts of the games she would play tomorrow with the Pod.
Father didn't believe my lie, yet he nodded anyway. "So, did you find your treasure beneath the waters, Laenor?" he inquired, his eyes twinkling with amusement. I glanced at Laena, who returned my look with her own curiosity, as she had not seen any treasure I might have brought back from the sea either.
"I was waiting for you to ask; I placed them near the seashore. I'll get them; wait for me," I said as I ran toward the sea with renewed vigour to retrieve the eggs and surprise Father and Laena. After reaching the spot and thanking the fish for keeping the eggs safe, I swam back to shore, making sure to conceal the eggs behind my back.
As I approached the place where Father and Laena were waiting, I noticed their impatience to see what I was hiding. Father even tried to use his height to peek, but fortunately, I am quite tall myself.
"Are you two ready for the surprise?" I asked. The only reply was two pairs of raised eyebrows. Without further ado, I unveiled my find. Father looked so astonished he nearly dropped himself onto the sand. Laena didn't hesitate for a second and snatched the rich purple egg from my grasp. She began twirling with the egg in her hands. Overcome with excitement, she approached me and kissed me close to my lips. I couldn't help myself as feelings I had never experienced before surged within me. And I averted my gaze from hers, which no longer seemed innocent.
Father regained his composure and observed my reaction to Laena's unexpected kiss. He gave a mysterious smile, then turned to me and said, "Laenor, I'm at a loss for words regarding the treasure you've discovered. Despite my numerous voyages across the known world, I cannot claim to have found such a priceless treasure. I am proud of you, my son. Let's present this to your mother." His voice was filled with pride. He took the black egg from my hand and began to examine it closely. In response, I simply smiled.
After we began our journey towards the keep presenting the dragon eggs to my beloved mother.
*****
My mother examined the eggs and then me, repeating the action several times. With a sigh and a tone of defeat, she said, "How and where did you find these eggs, Laenor? I've visited dragon hatcheries many times, but I've never seen eggs with colors like these. They're also larger and heavier than Targaryen dragon eggs, which might be because they've turned to stone. Yet, even as stone, they are a valuable treasure that could fetch you many things if sold to the right person." Laena looked downcast upon hearing they had turned to stone, yet it didn't stop her from embracing the egg she had chosen for herself.
"I am aware they have been turned to stone. However, I have resolved to awaken them from their stony slumber since the moment I found them. I believe in my ability to do so. Therefore, Laena, if you desire for this Dragon egg to hatch, I would ask that you entrust it to me every evening. And to mother and father, I seek your permission to visit the seashore whenever I wish," I declared. Laena handed over her Dragon egg with a look of hope, a hope I had no intention of shattering by failing to hatch her egg. I accepted the egg and turned to my parents, awaiting their judgment on my request.
"You have my permission to go there whenever you wish. However, I want you to take care of yourself and avoid repeating what happened last time," said Father, then he glanced at Mother to see if she would grant her permission. Laena and I also turned towards her, awaiting her opinion.
"I would prefer not to grant you permission. However, I know you might disregard my wishes, as you did when you retrieved the dragon eggs from the ocean's depths. I'm lenient this time because you've shown care and proven you won't repeat the same mistake. But I need to hear from you, Laenor, that you won't take such drastic actions again without our consent. I'll grant you permission this time, but be mindful not to repeat same mistake twice. I yearn to see you succeed, for it would distinguish House Velaryon's dragons from those of the Targaryen's," my mother said, her smile tinged with sadness.
"I will ensure not to repeat the same mistakes, Mother and Father. It won't be long, Laena, before I find a way to awaken them from stone," I assure her. Taking my black egg, I head towards my room, as today I have a swordsmanship lesson at the training yard.
"Do you think he will be able to do it, Mother? I really want to succeed, even if it's just his egg that hatches," said Laena as Laenor took his leave from the chamber where they had been talking. Her parents looked at her with sadness in their eyes. The dragon egg not hatching at her cradle had affected her deeply, a wound that could only be healed with a dragon by her side.
"Have faith in your little brother, Laena. He has surprised us today, and who knows, he might just do it again, leading to the hatching of these dragon eggs. We don't have many records of such an event, but there's nothing to say it will never happen either," her father remarked, patting her hand before he left the chamber to attend to his duties.
*****
I sought permission to visit the seashore due to my unique abilities, a result of my Valyrian lineage and Percy powers. My vitalkinesis has evolved into a minor form of life-force manipulation, enabling me to infuse life-force into dragon eggs. Unlike other bodies of water, the sea provides an abundance of life-force that surpasses anything the keep's water can offer.
That's why I was compelled to approach the sea during this moon, to harness as much life-force as possible. However, it's uncertain how long it will take for the Dragon eggs to emerge from their stone-like state. There's the precedent of Daenerys' eggs, which hatched when certain conditions were met. It could be the life-force of many sacrificed in the pyre, the bleeding red star in the sky, or perhaps because Daenerys was a prophesied candidate.
I intended to use High Valyrian as a runic language to expedite the process. Once they emerge from their stone-like state, I would imbue them with a constant life-force until I could sense life-force radiating from them. I am experimenting to see what would happen if a dragon egg received this much life-force. I hypothesize that they would be the pinnacle of their species, but I could be mistaken, as there may be many differences that could manifest.
That's why I chose not to tame an older dragon; I aimed for the pinnacle of their species. If the dragon's growth could rival that of Daenerys's dragons, there wouldn't be much time before they reach the stature of Silverwing or Dreamfyre. Upon arriving in my room, I instructed the servants to prepare a bed of heated coals for the dragon's egg, as it requires a continuous heat source to ignite the lost spark within it.
"Here it is, My Lord. Does it meet your approval?" inquired Aleria, the servant tasked with attending to all my needs. Aleria awaited my nod of consent before the servants, who were carrying the square coal bedding, could set it down near the fire source in my chambers. Once I gave the signal, they positioned the bedding and lit some wood beneath it to warm the coals, as I intended to place my egg there. After setting the egg down, I instructed Aleria to arrange a similar bedding in Laena's room and to guide her through the same process I had just demonstrated.
Aleria nodded, took her leave, and I began making my way to the courtyard for my swordsmanship training with my uncle, Ser Vaemond.
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