174
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299 AC
Kingslanding
Eragon Targaryen
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Flying over the city where Targaryen kings have ruled from I can't help but feel like I am seeing something I shouldn't. I promised I would not 'go' to the city without the rest of the family and the army which will be in a few days but Arrax went where he wanted to.
But I also can not deny that I am not too angry with my dragon and his chosen destination.
""It's beautiful and hideous at the same time!"" I speak loudly over the cutting wind as we fly over the city casting a shadow over some of the buildings.
Arrax trills as I scratch at his scales and I smile feeling the joy of my mount, I can't help but feel he understands just how 'sneaky' we are being. The first two to fly together and the first two to fly from Dragonstone to Kingslanding... how much more will we claim together.
I look off the side of my mount and down at the city as he circles it mainly gliding to keep from having to flap his wings. He is growing like a weed but even still it will be a few more months until he is completely comfortable with me on his back. But I think he might be growing faster not just from the abundance of food and heat on Dragonstone but from carrying me as well. I think the added weight is helping to train his muscles and help them grow... but maybe I am just overthinking.
People on the streets look like ants and the houses look messy and unorganized for the most part. They only seem to have some order to them around the broken Dragon pit which if I remember correctly is the Street of Silk and the home of the whores. Surprisingly they seem to have the cleanest side of the city with what I am remembering to be the Street of Steel by the Sept of Baelor being the second cleanest looking from up here.
I want to fix this or at least start the long journey of rebuilding it all piece by piece even if it costs a mountain of gold. The seat of House Targaryen and the home of the King should look the best compared to any other city in Westeros. If it looks and smells like this then people will have a certain view of our family thinking we are unorganized and stinky.
It is the small things, Mother told me all about how every little handhold the schemers can find will be used. It starts with offhanded comments about how the city smells like piss and ends with them walking away from the conversation having taken the upper hand. All through the use of small handholds that need to be chipped away and smoothed out as well as they can be.
No weaknesses can be presented.
Dragons will certainly help with this, the majority of them will be on Dragonstone but some will stay in the repaired Dragon Pit. Not as chained beasts in a cage but instead using the tunnels under it to let them do their own thing and relax with a mighty guard of five hundred or more men to keep out a swarm of common folk. Some of the best of the best will be a part of the Dragon Guard and will break up any unrest in the city if someone like the 'shepherd' returns to lead a mob to attack the pit once more.
But I expect a similar storming of the pit to sail horribly, the dragons without chains will treat the swarm of people as a never-ending supply of food. Biting and tearing away at any who dare to tread on their tunnels, is a death sentence for even the most armored of people.
This reminds me to somehow prevent and look out for people trying to start a cave-in on the dragons. My eyes travel to the Dragon pit and the many entrances and exits that cover the side of the hill like pocks. Some of the 'Dragon Dens' have exits for the dragons directly into and out of the hill the Dragon pit is built on and those will need defensive measures.
Arrax rumbles and I turn to face where he is looking and I see the massive siege being led by House Royce. Aemma said Lord Royce is going to hold until the Usurpers are dragged out or we arrive and take the city. I am sure if he is looking up now he is speechless seeing a dragon with his own eyes.
One with a rider on the back no less.
I know the people of the city likely feared us flying over but in the coming years it will be a normal sight for them. They will all grow used to Targaryens flying their dragons when all of the dragons get to to size and we take to the skies together. It will be Valyria come again to see all the dragons flying together around people, hopefully, something that will be accepted easily enough.
Some rouge elements will need to be handled before it can be accepted though... some long-standing problems.
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299 AC
Kingslanding
Cersei Lannister
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Dragon.
White or even silver if the light hits it right, with a silver-haired rider flying around the keep as if they own the place. The beast roars so loud it hurts my ears and my wine tipped over and spilled on my dress.
But I would be lying if I said it did not remind me of the dream I once had, Rhaegar and Myself as his Queen on a dragon. I saw it so clearly in the dream I thought it was real all the way up till he married the whore. I remember Jaime finding me drawing it and getting angry about it until I said it was King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne which calmed him. Back when he was not so cold and distant, back when I thought I would be a Targaryen Queen.
Times were simpler back then, there was no worry and pulling hair out, and instead just patiently waiting till I was sent off to wed the next King.
But this dragon is certainly real, the flapping wings and roars that seems to shake the castle are all real. I am 'Queen' but only until this dragon decides to breathe its no doubt beautiful flames and burns me to ash. I think right about now is when I would accept and leave Kingslanding if not for the siege outside the walls.
They are checking each person leaving and letting them pass only after a thorough searching. I would likely be recognized and put in chains as a prize to be given to the Targaryens, if not I would be a prize to the men and passed around. So my only option is to wait for my end to approach on its own, all my ravens have gone unanswered and I am on my own with my wild Son.
The Son running around with a hammer in hand claiming to slay the dragon should it dare to land. But I think everyone knows how it would end, a pile of ash with not even any bone left to bury and a dragon left unharmed.
I suppose I should thank Lord Stark, in a way he saved my children and I know his honor will protect them to the bloody end. If they don't just bend over and take whatever deal the Dragons force upon them. Starks bent to dragons without a fight once unlike the Lannisters of old who fought and watched men burn on the field before bending the knee.
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299 AC
Dragonstone
Rhaenys Targaryen
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""Hold still Meraxes!"" I shout after my dragon who is running on the ground like a lopsided hound with a whip of a tail slashing around behind her.
I want to jump on her neck as Eragon does Arrax, and my girl has no spikes on her neck so I can sit comfortably. I do not understand how he is able to sit with those spike and not catch one to his sack, it's a blessing it has not happened yet. There are still quite a few babes to be made and he can't have his sack torn open on Dragon's back until he has gotten all of his duties tended to.
""Got you!"" I shout as I grab her wing and hold on making her hiss but not fight back, only lowering her head and licking my hands holding her wing. ""Let me try once more, I swear this time will be different."" I meet eyes with my future mount and I can see the annoyance in her golden eyes.
She lowers her body and I jump up running around to her neck, throwing a leg over I slip onto her back and she shakes. I can feel much more power than the last time we tried this as she lifts me completely off the ground and starts moving around. She seems to be testing the added weight before looking back at me craning her neck.
""Let's fly!"" I shout and she trills before getting a running start.
Powerful steps with her claws ripping the ground rush us forward before she leaps into the air throwing her wings out. I almost scream when she falls toward the ground making my stomach rise almost into my chest but she flaps her wings making it drop back down. I grip around her neck tightly with both my arms and legs, suddenly regretting not having a saddle made.
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299 AC
Dragonstone
Visenya Targaryen
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"So what did you learn?" Grandmother asks Rhaenys who has a scrapped shoulder from a poor landing on her dragon.
My left hand ghosts over my dire wolf with the other scratching Vhagars snout making him puff smoke from his nostrils. I smile at Rhaenys as she looks thoroughly disappointed, either from the tongue-lashing or the poor landing I do not know.
But I know she will be wroth when Eragon brings it up and how he has had good landings thus far. Her fiery spirit will become ignited like her dragon's flames and she will venture out to make the perfect landing no matter how many times she falls. I lean against my dragon who is laying on the balcony and had his large head pushed into the door.
I am sure I could fly with him if we tried, he might struggle but he could get us both up I am sure about that much. But looking into his sky-blue eyes I know it is not time yet... soon but not just yet. I just hope before we head North or the Starks come down to us it is already time so I can show our might as Dragon and Rider.
I wish I also had Dark Sister like the Visenya before me but it's still with the Wildling woman beyond the wall. I have peeked at her a few times and found her to be interesting and possibly even a better warrior than myself. We will fight for the sword when I manage to find her, I will earn my blade and show I am worthy of it and my name.
I can't help but feel warm inside imagining it, a fight for the blade of my namesake from a seemingly skilled wildling savage. Maybe right out beyond the wall in the snow and ice, the haunted forest with only the bone-chilling cold to observe. Vhagar would surely not mind the trip once he is big enough, I will tell him how important it is to me. He is a smart boy and always listens to what I say and responds to my orders well.
I shake my head and banish the thoughts seeing Rhaenys run from our Grandmother who looked ready to pull her ear for ignoring her. I smile once more when she yells out 'I love you' as she makes a quick escape. But a familiar roar of Arrax further distracts my thoughts as I look up to see the return of my husband after a very long flight.
""Let's go see where they went off to."" I speak up and Vhagar looks eager as Ghost runs to the door with his tail wagging.