The salty wind slapped against my face as I stood on the deck of the Silver Grace, one of the royal galleys that were sailing across the seas to Driftmark.
The other royal ships sailed in formation beside us as grey clouds were on the horizon, the King's vessel Black Tide cutting through the water just ahead as it carried the man in question along with the Queen and Helaena.
Guess Alicent really wants to test me before she even allows me in the vicinity of her daughter.
"Lord Torrhen, may I ask a question?", I turned my head as I heard Prince Aemond speak, watching as the boy stood quietly with his arms behind his back and his eyes scanning the horizon.
Despite his young age, he was a lot more composed than the rest of the Targaryen children, which I guess made sense since he was bullied by his older brother and his sister's children.
"But of course, Prince Aemond. How may I be of service?"
"There have been stories told about you, strange stories. Are they true?"
"If there is any truth to them, may I ask that you keep it a secret? I'd rather not lose more trust in her Grace the Queen if need be."
"I do not know if I can make such a promise, but I shall try."
"That's all I ask," I whispered with a smile, taking out the seeds of an apple I had kept after eating it for breakfast. To his surprise, I began to direct the Aether of the world into it, watching as the seeds split open and numerous small roots slowly took form.
However, I stopped before the process could continue onwards, Aemond blinking as I picked up one and tossed it at him with a smile.
"…I see the stories have some truth to them," he murmured, holding the seed softly and studying it with a hum before being surprised as I shook my head when he went to give it back.
"You can keep it, my prince. Perhaps one day, you'll think of me when you see it again."
"It appears that I may have misjudged you, Lord Torrhen."
"It brings my heart joy to see you change your mind, my Prince," I spoke, the two of us standing in silence that was occasionally broken by the sounds of wind and waves or the calls of the crew.
"If I may, Prince Aemond, might I ask you a question?"
"Ask away."
"What does Helaena like?", I asked, watching as the boy glanced at me with an eyebrow raised.
"What do you mean?"
"Does she like dresses? Flowers? Jewels? Or is she more the type that likes armour or swords or weaponry?"
"And why would you like to know what she likes and what she does not like?"
"It is simply the curiosity of a young boy trying to learn more about his betrothed," I answered, Aemond's gaze not moving from me before he hummed.
"Well, Helaena is not the type to like armour and swords. Says that the sounds they make are aggravating to her ears. She is a lover of silk dresses, though, and she does enjoy a nice necklace every once in a while. However, what she loves most is the little trinkets she finds on the floor from time to time."
"Trinkets?"
"Small things. For example, she loves picking up broken beads or lost pins or anything she finds lying about that catches her attention. 'The threads around them were vibrant and mesmerizing' is what she said if I'm remembering correctly. Although, I suppose that you would know more about that than I would considering that you managed to hold a full conversation with her."
"She simply sees the world in a way that's identical to how I do," More of a lie than a truth, but it seemed to appease Aemond's curiosity as he hummed before looking forward.
However, I did catch him looking longingly in the distance, turning my head to see Aegon's Sunfyre slowly flying towards the fleet before it turned once again.
"May I ask another question?"
"Ask."
"Why do you not have a dragon?"
"I'm like Helaena. The dragon egg that was placed in my cradle did not hatch and the younger dragons in the Dragonpit do not respond to my commands. Before you ask, yes, I have even tried the sickly ones," He answered and I narrowed my eyes as I focused on his thread.
'Ah, I get it now,' I thought with a hum, staring at the thin thread that wrapped around him. While it was still far larger than the threads than every other noble of the South that I have met, it was rather small compared to that of his siblings and his family.
'Perhaps, that's it. While Helaena has too potent of a thread that no regular dragon could handle, Aemond's thread on the other hand is too weak to tame a dragon. Then, how is he able to become partners with Vhagar? Unless…', All Targaryens and their dragons live in sync with each other, but what if…?
'Aemond got more and more confident the more time he spent riding Vhagar, right? Perhaps, their relationship is like Venom and Eddie Brock. The stronger one end is, the stronger the other end becomes to balance it out.'
"Well, then I'm certain you'll find the one meant for you."
"Is that you using your magic?", He asked, one silver brow raised as I smiled.
"No, my Prince. That's simply the words of a boy confident in the abilities of another," he looked at me for a bit before a rare smile spread across his lips, the two of us staying silent and turning forward right as we caught sight of High Tide forming in the distance.
And with that, I think the beginnings of an alliance are forming.
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High Tide stood proudly on its cliff as the Silver Grace pulled into harbour, both Aemond and I watching the dockhands scrambling to tie the ship.
The banners of House Velaryon, a seahorse on a sea green background, fluttered beside House Targaryen's red three-headed dragon, but a solemn atmosphere hung in the air as I caught sight of a few people weeping.
'Looks like Laena Velaryon was more loved than I was expecting,' I thought as the dockhands finally lowered the gangplank and allowed us to disembark.
Looking over at the Black Tide, King Viserys was the first to descend with Ser Harold at his side, Queen Alicent and Helaena following after along with the rest of the Kingsguard.
Slowing down and walking beside the knights while Aemond fell in line with his mother and sister, I nodded to the Kingsguard and they looked amused before nodding back.
In front of us, the Velaryons were already waiting, Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys standing with their faces unreadable. Right beside them a bit further off stood Daemon, his gaze focused on me for a brief moment before he looked away.
Looking past them, I watched as Rhaenyra, Laenor and their children walked out the gates of the castle walls, Aegon not too far behind with a bored look on his face.
'Yeah, he's really messing up the relationship between the two houses with that look,' I thought as I stopped when everyone else did, Lord Corlys bowing his head along with his family.
"Your Grace, I thank you for taking time out of your day to come and be with us on this sad day."
"It is our pleasure. Laena was a close member of our family and her memory deserves to be honoured with dignity and love. We shall mourn her as kin, as the sea-farer and as the dragonrider she was," the King spoke, to which Rhaenys gave a thankful nod while Viserys looked over to his brother.
With that said, I followed the group as we made our way into High Tide, my gaze flickering to the side as I saw Aegon falling in line with his family.
"You shall have the ceremony later today?"
"Yes, Your Grace. Once the tides turn, the sea will take her when it's ready."
'And in that time, I'll be preparing for what will happen later tonight,' I thought with a slight frown, hiding it as best as I could as I remembered the destruction that was to ensue later tonight should I not interfere.
Aemond getting Vhagar, Aemond losing an eye, the true forming of the Greens and the Blacks, Daemon and Rhaenyra finally deciding to marry each other.
It's going to be a chaotic mess tonight…and I need to make sure I alter it to the best path that I can.
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"My gentle niece. May the winds be as strong as your back, your seas as calm as your spirit, and your nets as full as your heart. From the seas we came, to the seas we shall return," I was silent as I watched Vaemond Velaryon finish his speech, a solemn and saddened tone in his voice.
At the nod from Corlys, the bell was released, sinking into the raging sea below right as I bowed my head for a moment in respect.
"She dreamed of this," I heard Helaena whisper softly, turning my gaze to see her standing close as she stared at the waters.
"The bell, the tide, the salt. She knew that this is where she would be. She always knew."
"What did she see, Princess Helaena?"
"The sea gives and the sea takes, but the fire…it never forgets," Turning my gaze back to the sea, I watched as a soft blue burst of energy rippled across the waters, both Helaena and I observing the spirit softly smiling at us all before diving back into the waters.
Lady Laena was now gone, now to join the Merling King while her memory lingered in the hearts of those who loved her.
With the ceremony now done, I followed after Helaena as the two of us made our way up the rocks, the dark-brown haired man known as Ser Steffon Darklyn following close by as he was Helaena's Sworn Shield.
"Do you wish to rest?"
"It would be preferable," she murmured and sat down under the shade of one of the many cloths thrown over raised poles to provide protection from the wind and the sun.
Ser Steffon stood a respectable distance away, hand resting lightly on the pommel of his sheathed sword as I offered Helaena a waterskin I had taken from the table.
Sitting down beside her, neither of us said anything as we stared out into the horizon. Well, I was the one staring as Helaena had to speak now and again to a few lords and ladies that came over to gave their condolences.
Looking over at Helaena, I raised an eyebrow as I saw her playing with a faded braid of sea-green thread that was bound around a bead the size of her thumbnail.
"Laena gave this to me when I was younger. It was her last visit to the Keep before she left for Essos. She found it tangled in her daughter Baela's hair and said it didn't belong to them, so it must have belonged to me," She explained as I glanced at it, noting the slight thread of aether that connected both it and her.
"She said 'Things find you when you need them or when they need you'."
"A beautiful thought to have," I murmured, Helaena nodding before I blinked as her eyes flickered to him.
"I know what happens tonight."
"What do you mean?"
"The dragon will gain power in exchange for the lone wolf's flesh. The darkness and the greenery will start their feud and the wolves will be forced to decide whether they stay in the forest or howl to the night."
' 'The dragon gains power in exchange for the lone wolf's flesh.' She didn't say that Aemond would lose an eye for that power…so will I have to sacrifice part of my flesh for that?', I thought as I processed her words, wondering just whether that was meant literal or figurative.
The darkness and the greenery is most definitely the Blacks and the Greens respectfully given that tonight was the original breaking point.
The wolves, though, could that be…?
'It's either House Stark or the North, meaning that no matter what happens, we'll still be forced to uphold the vows that we promised. So, that brings up the question. Will I intervene and risk my life…or will I let things go as they should?'
"Do you understand?", Helaena asked quietly, knocking me from my thoughts as I looked at her before smiling and shaking my head.
"Not entirely, but I will in time, Princess."
"Good. When the dragon wings beat three times, go to the servant wing's entrance. That is where you must decide whether or not you will change fate or not."
"Well, then while I am here, would you like to hear about the time I almost tamed a mouse?", I asked, smirking as she raised an eyebrow at me before nodding.
"I would."
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My eyes snapped open as I heard the sound of gigantic wings beating against the air, standing up from my bed while looking out at the dark sky to see Vhagar flying overhead.
Below, I could hear the panic of the guards and the knights, but at the second beat, I was already moving to put my cloak back on, already dressed in my sleeping garments.
Stopping at my door, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, immediately opening them to find myself in the body of a rat scurrying across the floor.
Turning the corner and running headfirst into a room, the door banged and drew the attention of the guards away from my room, the two going to investigate before I possessed another rat.
Racing off to Aemond's room, I slipped through a crack in the wall and clawed onto his bed, grimacing when I saw his bed empty before rushing over to the window and diving head first to the ground.
Returning my consciousness back to my own body, I stumbled as my senses snapped back into place, opening the door before rushing out as the guards were still investigating the noise.
'Well, I was hoping for it to be someone else, but I guess that was too much to ask for,' I thought as I made my way down the stairs, taking a left and daring into a corridor that led to the servants' passage.
It was a good thing that I had been warging all night whilst waiting for Aemond to make his moves, easily moving through the corridors and slipping down to one of the side entrances where I heard voices.
"Vhagar is my mother's dragon."
"Your mother's dead and Vhagar has a new rider now."
'Fuck, he's already here,' I thought with a frown as I stopped at the entrance, a smug Aemond standing on one side with a smirk while the other side had Baela, Rhaena, Jacaerys and Lucerys all glaring at him.
"She was mine to claim!"
"Then, you should have claimed her! Maybe, your cousins can find you a pig to ride."
"Prince Aemond," I called out, the five of them looking at me in surprise before he smiled.
"Lord Torrhen, it appears that you've arrived just in time to witness history itself."
"He stole her!"
"I understand that, my lady, but if you are angered by his angers, please see the king and let him take it from there."
"She wasn't his to take! He sneaked out and stole her like a common thief!", Jacaerys barked and I grimaced as Aemond did not look ashamed of his actions at all.
"That may be the case, but if you all start lashing out, there may be consequences that could lead to your mothers harboring even more hatred for each other than you already have."
"You…you're with him, aren't you? You get to marry his sister and by helping him, you curry more favour with him," Baela spoke with a sneer, Jacaerys and Rhaena turning their glares to me as I frowned.
"If I wanted to do that, my lady, I would have arrived later when he was in true danger and saved him. What I am trying to do now is prevent further bloodshed. Please, the day is already heavy with grief. Must we stain it with more blood?", I pleaded, watching as the two groups glared at each other before I let out a relieved sigh as Aemond began walking past them.
My eyes widened though as I caught a flash of steel, rushing in and tackling Aemond out of the way. However, I stood still as I stared at the dagger in my chest, slowly looking up to see the glare in Jacaerys' eyes right as I faintly heard footsteps nearing.
"Lord Torrhen! Lord Torrhen, stay with…"
A/N: And we end it here~! Like Helaena said, a dragon for the lone wolf's flesh.
Next chapter: Aftermath and Chaos.
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