Aelyx – 03
Once at the age of eight I had stumbled into a full-blown orgy in the confines of my father's fortress on Bloodstone. It had been weeks before I could look him or several other members of his hodgepodge court in the eye without blushing furiously. And yet I can honestly say that in the past three hours, since the royal court of Viserys I took up residence within the halls of High Tide, that experience had dropped to only the second most uncomfortable experience of my life. The sheer amount of passive-aggressive sniping that went on between the Queen and Heir Apparent would be almost amusing if you didn't know that it would culminate in mass murder and wanton destruction. It might have been bearable if it was just the two women picking at each other, but unfortunately, both were trailing a retinue of dozens of sworn swords and ladies-in-waiting, who were just as keen to tear at each other as their patrons. It was a nasty little war of snide remarks and venomous insinuations. And at the center of the giant mess sat our useless lump of a king. After witnessing the Blacks and Greens in action I refused to believe that the coming conflict was the result of anything but his willful ignorance and purposeful neglect.
Catching a glimpse of Lord Corlys through the crowd of courtiers, I decided it was time to implement my plan. I shouldered my way across the room and made my way to his side. Leaning against the wall, I patiently waited for him to finish his conversation. Finally, he turned to me, arching an eyebrow questioningly.
"I overheard a few of the Queen's hangers-on talking about Vhagar. It was suggested that with Lady Laena's death Vhagar should be returned to the royal family."
His eyes narrowed in anger "How would they even"
"Aemond" I interrupted.
"A boy of ten" he scoffed.
"Otto Hightower dangled Alicent before King Viserys when she was three and ten, do you really think his daughter wouldn't attempt to mount her son on the greatest living dragon"
Corly's face blanked "No, no I don't. I'll assign more guards to the Nest and set orders for the servants to keep an eye out for anyone attempting to escort a child from the castle." I opened my mouth to suggest they also keep an eye out for a lone child, before closing it. That would be suspiciously specific. The extra guards around the dragons would surely be sufficient. I spent a few more turns of the glass circulating around the room being happily ignored by both factions, before retiring to my chambers.
That night I tossed and turned in my bed unable to shake my unease. I didn't even know what night Aemond would try for Vhagar. By the hour of the owl, I knew that I wouldn't be able to sleep until I had assured myself that Aemond remained far away from Laena's dragon. Kicking off my covers, I hastily pulled on a tunic and breaches and exited my room. Stalking through the halls of High Tide, I easily slipped past the few who still remained awake. Crossing the well-maintained grounds, I soon found myself at the entrance of the Nest. I was pleased to note that the guard had been doubled from four to eight. As I approached, they stiffed ready to bare my way.
"Halt" came the cry. I continued on for a few more steps so that my face was visible in the torchlight before coming to a stop. The men stiffened, obviously recognizing me and glanced anxiously among themselves. Their concern was clear, while they have been ordered to bar the Hightower brats from the Nest those instructions did not include me. The question of the validity of my legitimatization may have been bandied around by the highborn, but to smallfolk, like the men-at-arms who stood before me, I had been named prince and Targaryen by my father. It took a bold man to cross the Rogue Prince. I watched impassively as their leader stepped forward.
"What is your business here your grace."
"I am visiting the dragons."
"In the middle of the night?"
"Yes," I replied without elaboration, staring impassively at the men before. I fought back a smirk as they began to squirm uncomfortably, I had long ago learned to wield Daemon Targaryen's brutal reputation as a cudgel. It took only a few heartbeats for them to break. They stood aside murmuring apologies for accosting me as I strode through the entryway and made my way to the hall where Vhagar rested. Upon arrival, I stopped and stared at the massive beast of bronze and green. It was the first time I had seen her since my stepmother's death. A single enormous eye opened and fixed upon me. The dragon let out what could only be called a mournful keen. I realized that this was the first time I had ever been this close to Vhagar without Laena accompanying me. The thought was like a punch to the gut and tears welled in my eyes. I stepped forward, reckless in my grief. Reaching out I placed my hand on Vahgar's snout feeling her warm scales against my palm. I stroked her.
"I know girl I miss her too," I whispered words of reassurance and mutual grief to the dragon in a similar fashion as I had to my younger sisters just a few days prior. I stayed there for hours occasionally speaking to the dragon, but primarily sitting in silence. At several points, I fell asleep only to be awoken by the sounds of Vhagar shifting. When the first rays of dawn pierced the sky, I rose to my feet and departed the Nest, returning to my room just in time the meet the servants who were there to dress me for Laena's funeral.
The service itself was quite beautiful. We all stood silent on the beach, as Lord Corlys eulogized his daughter. As he spoke several members of the Velaryon family entered the water where a small boat containing her body bobbed. Lining both sides of the craft they pushed it between them, dragging it out past the wave break to where water reached their necks. They then released it allowing it to drift off into the sea, while they swim back to the shore. My attention was pulled to the sky by a dragon's wing beat. Caraxes swooped down the sun at his back and unleashed a torrent of flame on the boat, completely engulfing it and appearing to set the very sea aflame. I had seen its like only once before when I was nine and my father had mounted me before him on Caraxes and flown out to burn a squadron of Triarchy sponsored pirates. It was, I decided a fitting goodbye to the dragon-riding daughter of the Sea Snake.
While the luncheon in the immediate aftermath of the funeral was a somber affair as the day dragged on the wine flowed freely and the gathering took a decidedly jolly turn. I downed more than a few glasses myself. As life in Westeros often ended suddenly and frequently its inhabitants had long since decided there was time to grieve the lost and a time to celebrate their life. The copious amounts of alcohol combined with the exhaustion of the past week soon lulled me to sleep and I passed out draped across a table in the Great Hall.
I was jerked awake by a roar that echoed across the island. Sprinting from the Hall, I stumbled into the courtyard. I looked up squinting through the dusk and saw the unmistakable form of Vhagar circling high above the keep. My blood ran cold.
"No! No! No!"
I tore out of the courtyard, dashing toward the nest. I shoved my way into pushed the guards standing outside, gaping at the sky, and dove into the building. Skidding to a stop in Vhagar's massive chamber my worst fears were confirmed. The torn remnants of chains littered the room while a small boy huddled terrified in the corner. I blinked, instead of the small brown-haired form of Joffrey Velaryon that I expected, I found myself staring at the Aemond Targaryen. If he was here then who was riding Vhagar? It appeared I would have my answer momentarily as the dragon began her descent, just as several people burst into the chamber behind me. Vhagar landed with an earth-shaking thud. She was riderless. Her great head swung to face the new interlopers in her chamber and she let out a bowel-loosening growl.
"Oi," I shouted. "Easy girl" I stepped forward just as I had seen Laena do when a few of the Old Blood of Volantis had gotten a little too close and were nearly devoured.
"Lykiri, lykiri," I soothed her. I took another step forward and reached out. She lowered her head and allowed me to stroke her scales just as I had done the previous night. I was trembling slightly and didn't dare break eye contact for fear that she would begin a rampage.
"No!" A child's voice screamed. "In my peripheral vision, I could see Prince Aemond shaking in a mixture of rage and fear. "Vhagar was supposed to be my dragon, she's mine."
"Don't be a fool boy." My father answered from somewhere behind me, a sneer in his voice. His tone then changed to one of pride "She has chosen her rider."