Aerion

297, Driftmark

The white seahorse was whipped by bitter flurries of the bay. Aerion's ears stung and his fingers tingled from where the winds bit and clawed. They tasted like salt as they scraped through his throat. Aerion loved the ocean, ever changing, fierce, free.

The harbour was crawling with men, loading and unloading ships. Accents of the Free Cities flew from sailors lips, whiffs of spices were blown about with the wind and Aerion almost felt as if he were already in Pentos, if it weren't for the excited chattering of his nephew behind him. His family had come to see them off across the Narrow Sea.

"-roads. I want to ride a donkey. Will Uncle ride a donkey in Pentos? I think he is too tall for them, not me though, I'm just right," Monterys stated almost to himself. He was gazing up at Laerys with expectation but turned away once he found her whispering into her husband's ear. He was no more than five and already keen beyond his years. Monterys was more his mother than his father, which put a smile on Aerion's face, it was a chance to see how Laerys could have been at his age.

Neither he nor Ser Darreth had much to carry, this was a subtle trip after all. No men were hauling chests full of fabric and steel on the ship or leading war horses over the gangplanks, no he carried his belongings in a sack over his shoulder. He had been told that Monford had taken care of everything and he should not worry about anything, but he did anyway. In truth he had been looking forward to this mission of sorts. It gave Aerion a chance to finally see things apart from Driftmark as Aerion Targaryen, not Jacaerys Velaryon. It was for his protection Laerys had always explained when he complained of the island's dreariness and his need for air that did not taste of fish and salt. There had been one time earlier in the year where he left the island, the tourney for Prince Joffrey's twelfth name-day. But even then he was Jacaerys; not Aerion. From as early as he could remember people called him Jacaerys, it never sounded right to him, it never felt right, and that hurt. He knew his name, Prince Aerion Targaryen, but they didn't; to them he was a boy of a minor house that happened to descend from dragonlords of old. For a long time that's all that mattered to him, that he was a dragonlord.

The Tyroshi captain's words to Monford were curt and heated; their departure was much of the same. Laerys offered him words of encouragement and a gift. She slipped the silver dragon egg into his bag as soon as all the crewmen were preoccupied. "Do not let this be a dead weight, it is not stone yet," she had whispered before he could argue. At the captain's harsh words to his crew Laerys ushered Aerion onto the gangplank without another word. With a final glance back before disappearing below deck he caught a glimpse of Monford handing Darreth a sealed scroll. Hollers and curses were thrown at Darreth as he climbed aboard, the scroll no where to be seen.

Two men were waiting for his ship by the time Aerion stepped onto the pier. He handed the captain a piece of silver half heartedly then drew his hood further over his head, shadowing his eyes and hiding his hair. In truth he wanted to be as far from the vessel and crew as quick as possible. He was sure Bones, a skinny and greasy boy, was employed by a crewmember to steal coin from passengers like him and they all spoke in slaver's tongue. Aerion was never sure if it was indeed him they murmured and snickered about but he had heard 'Blueboy' and 'Cheekbones' thrown about when they thought he wasn't crouching behind barrels eavesdropping. He had found himself curled up around his dragon egg in his bed on multiple occasions, out of fear that Bones would snatch it from his cabin. The only comfort Aerion found was in his fellow Westerosi; a young on the run septa with very voluminous breasts, and Ser Darreth. She rambled about how her father found her fucking a Velaryon guard in the castle stables twice, which they both had a good laugh at because the guard was a friend of Aerion's and he'd heard the tale from him.

One man, the older by the looks of it, held two saddled horses while the younger, copper-skinned and scarred, held one. "You're late," the black-haired man growled. He looked a bit aged with his lined forehead and silver threaded hair. Aerion was taken aback slightly, he had thought the man would carry a Essosi accent but he sounded from the Seven Kingdoms.

"What did you expect sir? That I slowed the winds to spend a few extra hours with those precious slavers?" He retorted as he tucked his belongings into a saddlebag. He took the dark bay's reins from the second man, more a boy really, with a sidelong glance. The boy kept his gaze low and remained silent. The man frowned. Aerion saw him glancing over Darreth as a person would if they were trying to remember something or someone. "What's your name?"

"Haldon," his escort ground out.

Aerion climbed atop his horse. "Haldon? Haldon what? Westerosi with punctuality like yours tend to be noble, so, Haldon what?"

"Just Haldon to you." Haldon's voice betrayed nothing but his irritation. "And yourself? I don't believe you've given me your name."

The glance from Darreth was enough of a warning for Aerion. "Jacaerys Velaryon." Haldon's brow rose with doubt then twitched his head.

"A Velaryon? You're far from home." He said as he crossed his arms. The boy at Aerion's horse's head began to shift and fidget with unease. Haldon was trying to goad Aerion into a fumble of words which could reveal who he was. But Aerion had been prepared for questions about Jacaerys Velaryon after having to repeat the same answers to his sister over and over. "What brings a highborn boy like yourself across the sea to Pentos?"

"Trade negotiations," Aerion said smoothly. "My brother desires many of the foreign goods of Pentos, the likes of which never reach Westeros. . . Now, Haldon Just-to-Me, if I'm to meet with the Magister at a respectable hour we had best find a fourth horse for my friend-"

Darreth spoke up then, "My lord, I have separate business to attend to with Haldon, on your brother's orders." Aerion gave him a cold glare. He did not remember Darreth nor Monford ever mentioning them splitting ways. "I spoke to you of it shortly after we left."

Aerion felt his ears growing hot. His fingers tightened around the leather reins and the bay shifted beneath him. He cocked his head and smiled stiffly. "I don't recall that," he paused. It was the letter. The parchment Monford handed to Darreth on Driftmark. Aerion hadn't seen it since then or thought to question what it was, he thought it was a letter to Viserys. He knew now and felt a twinge of bitterness. He wondered if Laerys knew. Surely she did. He continued with false recollections. "Oh, was that before I nearly fell overboard?" he forced a laugh.

"You had several drinks with the captain that night," Darreth reminded him.

"Ah yes," he lied. He did not drink on that ship, let alone sit with the captain. The position Darreth had put him in forced them both to continue this play for Haldon, for Aerion's sake. They were beyond cautious, any Westerosi in Essos could have ties with the Spider and if word reached the small council in Westeros of the Velaryons involvement with the remaining Targaryens Driftmark would be put to the torch like it once was in times of old and the House put to the sword, even little Monterys who can barely ride his pony. "When will I be seeing you next then, or am I to return to Driftmark without you?"

Haldon glanced to Darreth as the knight spoke, "The Magister has offered his hospitality for as long as we need, I will find you there." Darreth and Haldon mounted their horses and took their leave. Aerion received a final nod from Darreth as they rode through the crowd. From afar Aerion saw the two men hunched closer to each other, clearly speaking under their breath.

A/N: Well I expected that be longer but I felt bad for not doing anything with this for awhile. I wanted to add more to the ending (have to say I'm not the happiest with myself about it) but oh well I guess

Before I head off I'd like to thank Sliirt for your review! It helped me a lot and I look forward to anymore advice you have for me!