Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today
Riley was not joking when she said she was tired of the sea and was ready to commit a murder if they were not arriving soon. Damotra had laughed in the beginning, but even Riley could see that Damotra was getting tired.
Nothing but sea surrounding them for weeks, it was time for a change of scenery. Riley groaned as she walked on deck, the morning dawning bright and sunny.
'Are you already awake, Riley?' a voice asked, Missandei standing next to her. 'Yes, I'm having difficulty sleeping. The moving of the sea makes me a bit motionsick.' Missandei smiled and nodded. 'I know what you mean. I'll be happy to set foot on land again.'
Riley nodded in agreement. 'Tell me about it, one more day on this ship and I'm killing someone.'
'Than we should best arrive before that happens.' A voice answered, a smile clear in it. Riley turned around as she looked at Daenerys, the young queen as put together as ever. A green looking Damotra was coming up as well, but she seemed miserable.
'Are you allright?' Riley asked as her friend shook her head. 'I'm feeling sick again. I'm going to lie down some more.' Riley nodded as a shout of one of the Unsullied made them look up.
'It seems your wish will be coming true after all, Lady Riley.' Lord Tyrion mused. 'There is land in sight.' Riley looked up and grinned as land came into view.
'Dragonstone.' she whispered, as Damotra nodded.
They were soon ushered into a barge, Riley and Damotra sitting at the front, both encompassed in thick fur coats, for the wind at Dragonstone was blowing hard and cold.
Daenerys' look on her face was one of nervosity and excitement at the same time, as if she did not really believe they were finally here. Riley threw a furtive smile at Lord Varys who smiled unsurely back, as she looked back at the Hold (castle?) that came closer and closer.
Her friend looked up as the dragons flew over them and roared, going straight to Dragonstone and flying around the top. Riley still did not know where it left her with Viserion, and she resolved to test those boundaries once arrived.
Did Viserion still want her to ride him? Was this a one time occassion? And if he did, would she have to ask for help on how to ride Viserion without getting killed? Because let's be honest, flying on the back of a dragon without any kind of safety was incredibly dangerous.
'Riley, we're here.' Damotra whispered as they both were the first ones to step down. The wet sand crunched underneath their feet as Riley looked around, waiting for the Mother of Dragons to advance.
They followed the young queen up towards the steps, the excitement on the queen's face clear. Riley could only gush about how beautiful Dragonstone was, and she hoped they would stay here for awhile.
She could imagine herself living here, she mused. They went into the throneroom, Missandei motioning for them to wait as Daenerys and Tyrion went to a door near the throne.
'Let's get settled, shall we?' Damotra grinned as she dragged her friend towards the stairs.
The next few days were used for cleaning and settling into their rooms, two that were across of Daenerys' one. The room had been humid and cold, but after a thorough cleaning and dusting, it looked like a room again.
Riley sat on a chair before a warm light, the fire crackling in the hearth. She looked at one of the paintings on the wall, one of a Targaryen girl long ago, with such long and beautiful silver hair that Riley did not have the heart to take it off the wall.
Riley sighed as she drank her tea, drowsing a bit as the fatigue of the past days took over. A knock on the door interrupted her silence as she called for the person to come in.
Damotra came walking in, a look of excitement on her face. 'What is it?' Riley asked. 'Daenerys wants to see us. Something about riding Viserion and Rhaegal.' Riley raised an eyebrow in question as Damotra shrugged.
Riley's robes swished as she walked, the only sound distinguishable in the corridor. They soon came upon a door on which Damotra knocked, as someone called for them to walk in.
Riley stumbled behind Damotra as Lord Tyrion threw a smile at them, Riley smiling back nervously. She sat down on one of the chairs, taking one of the dragons on what seemed to be a wartable with their positions and those of the enemy. Riley weighed the stone dragon in her hand, her fingers tracing the details.
'I need to talk to you two.' Daenerys said, as she looked Damotra in the eye. Riley was still toying with the stone dragon, not sure what to say. 'We are beginning our preparation for the invasion of the Seven Kingdoms. For that, I need you two. I have three dragons and I'm but one.'
Damotra gulped as she felt in which direction the conversation went. 'I want you two to ride Rhaegal and Viserion, which also means in battle. You two will be one of my most important advantages in battle as we take back the Seven Kingdoms, and you being able to ride is vital, so you -' 'We will what?' Riley interrupted her.
'Ride your dragons into battle?' Riley asked, the stone dragon shaking in her hands. Daenerys nodded as Riley let out a disbelieving laugh. 'Me? Ride a dragon? I could barely hang onto Viserion back in Meereen! He did what you asked, not what I wanted. I am not fit to ride a beast that large!' Riley burst out as Daenerys sighed, seeing the doubt in both girls' eyes.
'Viserion and Rhaegal are not as big as Drogon.' 'You can hardly call them small, Daenerys!' Damotra said in disbelief as Riley closed her eyes, muttering under her breath.
'Dragons only chose one rider at a time. You have no choice, my friends. Don't you think Viserion and Rhaegal will feel better when you are there with them?' Daenerys prodded, seeing Damotra giving in.
Both girls had a weak point for the dragons. 'I can't! I freaked out in Meereen, what will I do on a real battlefield?!' 'You have a habit of underestimating yourself.' Daenerys shushed as Riley sighed, shoulders tense in frustation. 'You will not be going there alone and untrained Riley. I will train you and make sure you are ready when the time comes.'
That seemed to put Damotra at ease who muttered her consent and nodded. 'Riley? Please. I am not asking as your queen but your friend. Please.' Riley looked at the young dragonqueen, so young but so changed in the time she had known her.
Damotra watched her friend toy with the ends of her hair, as long as reaching her butt now. Riley eventually sighed and nodded. 'Fine.'
Daenerys grinned and went around the table, hugging Riley and Damotra. A smile broke through Riley's glum expression. 'Great! Your training will start tomorrow.' 'Training?' Damotra asked.
'You'll get some basic swordlessons. I want you to be able to defend yourself should it come to it.' Riley nodded, seeming a bit more confident now. 'And I will also be giving you lessons to ride Viserion and Rhaegal.'
'What?' 'Excuse me?' Both girls exclaimed causing Daenerys to laugh. 'It will be fine, you'll see.'
'I'm going to commit regicide.' Riley gritted out a few days later, as she lay once again on the ground, Greyworm not seeming impressed at all. 'I don't think the Unsullied would like that.' Damotra whispered back as she caught her breath. 'No one ever said it would be easy.' Greyworm said, as he extended his hand and helped Riley up. 'Despite what you think, you are both slowly improving.' He said as both future dragonriders looked at him in disbelief. 'Really.' he said, a small smile appearing on his lips, which was quite a feat to do.
'That's enough for today. Tomorrow the queen has cleared the whole day for you two to have lessons with her. Something about mounting dragons?' Riley groaned again. 'Yes, that.' 'He's all yours Missandei!' Damotra called out in a teasing tone as said woman gave them both a joking angry look.
Riley sat in her bathtub that evening, thinking about tomorrow. She was scared to admit it, but she was nervous. Meereen had been a spur of the moment, but this... She was not sure what to think of it.
Riley did not close an eye that night, and right before dawn gave up. She stood up as the sun came up and tidied her room, making her bed. She opened the doors to her small balcony and also the curtains, so some fresh air could come in. The cold air made her wake up, as the clashing of the waves in the distance made for a calming sound.
She asked for Lerana to prepare a warm bath so she could freshen herself up. Riley put on her clothes, ideal for the cold weather here. She put on cotton pants with fur on the inside and woolen socks, and a cotton shirt over it. A long woolen dresslike sort of sweater followed and than her necklace. She put boots on her feet, which came to her ankles.
A coat, similar to the one Daenerys wore, lay ready for use later. Riley looked in the mirror as she brushed her hair, thoughts far away.
Lerana came in as Riley sighed, her french fishtail braid wrong for the third time. 'Let me do it.' Lerana answered as Riley sighed but nodded. She pointed to where her braid should start and than Lerana went to work.
Though she did not like the woman, Riley had to admit she had a gift when it came to hair. She braided a long french fishtail braid that started at the top in the middle of Riley's forehead that went all the way down to Riley's butt (her hair had grown immensely, but she did not have the heart to cut it, only the ends sometimes to keep it healthy), not one hair out of place.
'That is...beautiful. Thank you.' Riley said as Lerana nodded. A small smile passed between the two. 'You will do great, Lady Riley. No one has ever doubted that. You only need to believe in yourself.'
Riley nodded, once more thanking Lerana. They might not be friends, but she preferred they be civil with each other. She looked once more at her reflection, allowing it to give her some courage.
She was one of the first to be at breakfast, only Missandei sitting there as well. 'You look...' 'Awful.' Riley admitted as she took a bite of her bread. 'I would not say that but...' 'I did not sleep at all last night. I was too nervous.' 'To ride Viserion?' Riley nodded as Missandei gave her a squeeze in her shoulder. Daenerys and Damotra came walking in, her friend a ball of restless energy.
'You look dead, my friend.' Daenerys said to Riley who groaned. 'Amen to that.' Damotra saw Daenerys' confused look at the foreign word and decided to save Riley, who started to look nervous when she understood what she had said.
'How will we do it, Daenerys?' Damotra asked, hoping to get Daenerys' attention away from Riley.
'Well, you'll see. I hope you'll like it.' With that, the strange mood dropped and they went back to their daily conversations.
After breakfast, Damotra and Riley followed Daenerys out towards a cliff, which she clarified was the place where the dragons slept. They were nowhere in sight however.
'You two wait here for a moment.' Daenerys smiled, going to the edge of the cliff and seeming to look out over the sea. Riley and Damotra both shared a look, not really knowing what it was. Than they heard it, that sound. That distinctive sound the three dragons all made.
A large shape came flying over the cliff, landing a bit further away. Drogon shook his head and long neck, lowering his snout so he was on his mother's level.
'Come and look to the side.' Daenerys motioned, Damotra stumbling behind Riley. Her darkhaired friend seemed more nervous around Drogon than her.
Daenerys stepped towards Drogon's side, where his leg was. 'Before, when Drogon was smaller I used to crawl up on his leg. Now, I crawl up on his wing, supporting myself on his neck.' Daenerys pointed the places where she typically grabbed for support.
'You'll each have to see what is easiest for you, but since they have grown bigger, I find mounting by the wings easier.' Daenerys smiled at them as they nodded. Drogon spread his wing, Daenerys stepping on with ease, doing it deliberately slow so both girls could follow.
'Okay?' Daenerys asked as both girls nodded, their nerves back again. 'Who wants to come up?' Damotra's eyes widened. 'You did not think I would let you fly immediately off just like that right? First, we'll go flying with Drogon. You'll learn to anticipate their movements. Than, when you feel ready, you'll be able to try yourselves.'
Damotra closed her eyes and seemed to steel herself, than went to the dragon. Drogon blinked but did not move and that seemed to calm down her friend. Damotra stumbled but eventually managed to crawl behind the queen, wrapping her arms around the khaleesi's waist.
Riley put up her thumbs in support as Damotra swallowed. Drogon started running and soon flew over the cliff, flying up into the air. Drogon circled and flew for a while, dropping down and flying into circles as Riley could see that Daenerys was giving explanations to Damotra over the howling wind.
Eventually Drogon came back, lowering so Damotra could get off. Her knees seemed to shake, but she stumbled less than before. 'Good luck.' Damotra whispered as she sat down and took a deep breath, cheeks flush of the adrenaline and wind.
Riley gulped but went towards Drogon, who extended his wing again.
Riley...did not do as well as Damotra. She slid off Drogon several times and when she finally did get on the dragon, her nerves were too strong. Barely a few minutes in the air, Riley had begged the Dragonqueen to let her get off, scared as she was.
Riley had never been scared of heights, but now she did not even dare go to the edge of the cliff. She sat on the grass all day as Daenerys helped Damotra mount up, but everytime she looked at Riley, the girl just looked away.
She could not get over her fear, and she did not know why. Every time she even thought about mounting Viserion, she remembered slipping of his scales, that feeling of hopelessness as she feared she was sliding to her death.
'Great, Damotra. Now try to get him to fly.' Daenerys coached as Damotra nodded, excited expression on her face.
'Rhaegal.' Damotra seemed to hesitate, but the dragon keened, making it clear he was listening to her. 'Please. Fly.' she whispered, but it did the trick. Rhaegal roared in happiness, standing on his two legs and flapping his wings, than finally went into a canter and dived off the cliff.
Riley's breath stopped, but than she saw Rhaegal fly up, a shouting and happy Damotra, but a dot on his back.
'Riley.' Daenerys asked. 'I cannot do it.' Riley confessed. 'I cannot. If I even think about it, I feel sick to my stomach.'
The young queen nodded. 'I could let you leave but to what end? Sooner or later, you will have to. I'm sure Viserion is as nervous as you.'
That seemed to quieten Riley, looking to Rhaegal in the distance, who was still flying around, an occasional shout of joy heard from his back. She looked at Viserion behind her, the dragon seeming to know what she thought, eyes blinking at her.
'I will try.' Daenerys smiled, helping Riley up. 'That is all I can promise.' Daenerys nodded as Riley turned around and looked at the horizon, the sun slowly starting to set. It was now or never.
Daenerys could not clear another day to teach them, and Riley did understand she was being selfish. Her fear rose again as she sighed, breathing out and wringing her hands together.
'Take these.' Daenerys offered. 'Your gloves?' Riley asked, as she put them on, fingers occasionally trembling.
'Your hands will be less sweaty, and you will not glide off as easily.' Riley nodded. 'Okay.'
Her legs seemed to tremble as she walked towards Viserion, Drogon landing behind her. She looked around one more time as Daenerys gave her a nod, and as she herself crawled up on Drogon.
Riley only now understood how big her friend was. As she walked by his neck, rows of scales became visible, as were his humongous wings. Riley stopped next to him, putting a hand on his neck.
Her friend lay down and opened his wing, as Riley took another deep breath. She felt lightheaded and could not stop herself from groaning, her head turning. Viserion made a worried sound, as Riley patted him on his neck.
'I'm fine.' Riley walked on the bone connected to his wing, grabbing hold of the spikes on his neck. She slid off one or two times but eventually his back came into sight. Riley had never been one to be very athletic or lean, and once again this came back biting her in the ass.
She could not manage, like Daenerys, just to crawl up and be seated. Riley huffed for a moment, figuring out what to do. 'What's wrong?' she heard Damotra call from above her, Rhaegal hovering in the air right above them.
'I don't know how to get on. I'll figure it out.' Riley said, motioning for her friend to keep on flying. Than she remembered Meereen. She had hoisted herself up by his spikes. 'Let's try that again.' Riley whispered to herself.
She grabbed one spike with her left hand, put her right hand on the part where his wing connected his back and than sort of hopped. As Riley 'hopped', she turned and put her hand on Viserion's back. Riley stood on all fours, one hand on a spike, the other on his back.
'You're doing great Riley. Take your time!' Daenerys called out in encouragement. Riley blew some stray hairs out of her face, lying down and than crawling forward.
She was finally seated, looking out over the cliff. 'Well, you're seated.' Damotra called out, Rhaegal still hovering in the air above them.
Viserion keened, turning his head so Riley could see his eyes. He yawned, stretching his wings and swishing his tail. Riley felt her fear and nerves rising again as Viserion moved.
It made it all the more clear he was a living, giant firebreathing dragon.
Riley blew out a breath and tried a different tactic. She lay completely down, belly almost glued to Viserion's back. She could barely see anything past his neck or head. She knew it was not the best way, and it would not be useful in battle, but she figured it was a start.
'Viserion...Just go. Before I lose my nerve.' Riley said, barely a whisper. Viserion keened again, but eventually started to run. Riley looked sideways, seeing the ground moving faster and faster. Drogon was already in the air, waiting for his brother next to the cliff.
Riley's breathing picked up as they came closer to the edge of the cliff, the smell of the sea becoming stronger and stronger. The butterflies in her stomach peaked, as she felt drops of seawater falling on her face.
'Oh god, oh god, oh god,...' Riley kept on whispering, closing her eyes in fear. 'Viserion. Wait!' Riley called out. But the dragon did not stop, and Riley could later tell he knew she would have chickened out and maybe never have gotten above her fear.
Before Riley knew it, they were at the edge, Viserion opening his wings and diving down. There was the sickening feeling of her world tilting, and than they were dropping down, fast.
'WAAAAAIIIIIITTTTTTT!' Riley screamed as they dived, sure they could hear her all the way to the hold. 'NOOOO!' she screamed again, but right above the water, Viserion opened his wings completely and went back up.
Riley looked behind her, seeing the sea becoming smaller and smaller underneath them. 'You did it Riley!' she heard Damotra call from beside her, Rhaegal flying next to his brother. Riley looked behind her once again, Drogon flying right behind them, Daenerys nodding at her from Drogon's back.
Viserion flew around at a leisurely pace, Drogon flying right behind him, Rhaegal going back to flying around the Hold.
'You've let him do as he pleases. Now it's up to you to steer him.' Daenerys called from behind her. Riley did not know how it worked, she did not know if it was by telepathy or some other bond they had, but Viserion seemed to anticipate and react to her smallest move or even her thoughts, always exactly knowing where to go.
She made him fly around in circles, Daenerys flying behind her, should something go wrong. 'Great. Now we're making it a bit more difficult. Try making him dive and make him do evasive movements.'
Riley swallowed, but Viserion did. She had to admit the feeling of her world tilting was not exactly thrilling, but her nerves eventually made place for excitement and small joy.
'You're doing great Riley. Let's do a little race, afterwards it is time for dinner. First one to fly around Dragonstone and come back wins the other's dessert.' Riley laughed and nodded.
Both dragons hovered next to each other, seeming to communicate between them. Damotra sat on Rhaegal, being the umpire.
'Ready? Go!' she called out. Easy to say, Daenerys won by a long shot.
'Where is Lady Riley?' Tyrion asked a few days later, as Missandei and Daenerys were looking at Dragonstone, both having a smile on their faces.
'She is there.' Missandei pointed as Tyrion frowned. 'How do you mean? I see the dragons but...' 'Look closer.' Daenerys said.
And indeed, than he saw it. Drogon was flying quite high up in the clouds, and underneath him Rhaegal and Viserion. Both flew around the highest point of Dragonstone and if you looked really hard, you saw it.
Two dots on their backs, one with black hair and one with brown, flowing freely in the wind.
