After proving that she herself could keep Rhaegal and Viserion under control as much as it took to stop them from raiding poor farmers of their herds and burning down small villages wherever they went, Rhaena beseeched her sister to let her take them out into the open so that they might stretch their wings. "It is not healthy for them. Their development might become slowed or their wings might grow crooked if they are not properly used. Leave them to me. I can manage them." At first Daenerys was hesitant and did not agree but each day Rhaena would go down into the catacombs and sit with the dragons, lounging against their sides or draped upon their backs, talking and singing to them as she gave them time to become used to her. Soon they began to anticipate her visits, and once Rhaena even persuaded Sansa to visit them with her though the girl had gone no further than the door and had screamed when she first saw them. She did not come back after that. Rhaena, however, was utterly besotted. Each time she was near them her blood came alive and she felt for the first time that her place had been found. Blood of her blood. Daenerys had explained to Rhaena what that meant to a Khal and also to her and her Blood Riders. Now she could well understand it, for that was how it felt to be near Viserion and Rhaegal. As if they truly were of the same blood.
Ser Barristan did not approve of Rhaena spending time alone with two untrustworthy dragons and so became a shadow watching over her, a hand always rested upon his sword hilt. It made Rhaena laugh. "You no longer have to guard me, Ser Barristan. I am in no danger here, least of all with Viserion and Rhaegal. Neither would allow anything to hurt me."
"They are dragons, my princess. Not dogs you can train and teach to be loyal. They have their own minds and their own tempers. Should the mood strike them they could set you aflame and feast upon your charred flesh." The old knight fretted but Rhaena never feared for such a thing. She knew the truth. All the same she did not want to upset Ser Barristan too greatly so promised not to be reckless or see them alone, and they argued no further on the matter. Instead their attention would turn to other things. Namely the practice Rhaena had taken up to learn better the use of the sword and dagger, to fight and defend herself in battle. It had been no surprise to Ser Barristan that on the morning after Rhaena's arrival she had strode to him directly and asked that he teach her properly how to fight. No more little hints and stolen practices in quiet, sheltered places such as in King's Landing, but openly and truly. Rhaena never wanted to feel powerless ever again for as long as she might live. She wanted to feel steel in her hand and know that she was not helpless to defend herself, or others. Ser Barristan had laughed a deep, mirthful splutter to see that tight set jaw and hard glare that he knew so well. He also knew better than to deny Rhaena when she had that look, and had no mind to refuse. She took up his lessons as she continued Syrio's, learning both the Westerossi and Essos style of fighting. Rhaena also learned archery and horseback riding from Kovarro, one of Daenerys's own bloodriders, sometimes simultaneously.
Coming away from those lessons always left Rhaena sore and bleeding in places she dared not mention but she did not utter a single complaint, for she was determined to become as adept at mounted archery as any Dothraki squaller. From Grey Worm himself, the Commander of the Unsullied himself, Rhaena learned the shield and three spears, and when the roguishly handsome Daario Naharis heard that Rhaena Targaryen was learning the art of battle he insisted upon weighing in with his own wisdom. Thus, Rhaena was also taught to wrestle and brawl. Ser Barristan disapproved thoroughly but Rhaena found it strangely entertaining and reasoned that it would help her develop strength. In any case, it was all very well and good to know how to fight like a knight or a soldier, or even a Dothraki squaller, but a sellsword knew how to study their opponent and judge whether or not they would win. They could determine their strengths and their weaknesses, learn their movements and styles in order to counteract them and also learned how to depend almost entirely upon their instincts. From the others Rhaena learned skills. From Daario she gained true fighting experience and more often than not would come away bloody. Each day, however, she would return for more and Daario respected her for it. Even within a few days Rhaena began to see and feel the changes in her body. Although her muscles ached and her limbs felt like stone her body was tougher and harder than before. She could fight longer, draw back her bow further, and hold a sword higher. Sansa could not understand it. Each day Rhaena would stumble back into her room covered in sweat, dust and blood whilst grinning like a madwoman and Sansa would set about helping her to wash and tend to her wounds. "Why do you insist upon training so hard?" Irked by Rhaena's own recklessness, Sansa pressed a little too firmly into one of the many bruises Rhaena had collected from her bouts which made her hiss with pain. "We are safe here, neither of us have to struggle to survive any longer. There are soldiers and men a plenty out there ready to defend us. Why must you be like Arya?"
"Because, sweet Sansa, there will come a time when I will want to take Cersei's head for myself, as well as a number of other people's and they will not be willing to part with them. For that to happen, I will have to fight through soldiers and Kingsguard and sellswords in order to reach them, and I shall not do it without being properly prepared. I vowed to take vengeance upon them all, and what better vengeance is there than that taken by one's own hand?" Sinking into the steaming water, Rhaena sighed deeply with a lazy smile.
"I do not like it." Sansa continued to protest, biting down upon her lip as she took Rhaena's arm in order to gently turn it, looking upon the colourful blotches that marred her flesh. "It…it reminds me of before. When they hurt you." Suddenly Rhaena felt guilty, sitting up in her bath in order to turn to Sansa with flinching gaze.
"I apologise, my sweet. I did not know it reminded you of such things. But these are good wounds. These are wounds that I have chosen and accepted, ones that I have earned. The more I practice, the less I shall have until no one is able to touch me, and if they cannot touch me then that means they cannot touch you either." Smoothing away the frown Sansa wore, Rhaena promised that she would be more careful from now on so that she did not have to look upon such ugly markings, wanting Sansa to see nothing but beauty for the rest of her life. With everything now progressing in a way which assured Rhaena of Sansa's safety, she once more broached the subject of taking Rhaegal and Viserion out of their prison at least for a time so that they might fly and exercise themselves properly. Uncertain eyes rose to meet Rhaena's as she leaned against her sister's desk.
"You are insistent upon this."
"Because you know as well as I do that they do not belong down there."
"I cannot risk them hurting anyone. Not again. Not after Drogon…" Rhaena had heard the story and pitied the poor girl who had met such a terrible end, but she was a stranger, and these dragons were of similar if not the same magic she was. She could feel their cries singing through her even now.
"They will not. I will ensure it." Sighing heavily, Daenerys put down the reports she had been reviewing in order to focus upon Rhaena as she suspected she would not rest this case any time soon. "I will fly with them."
"Do you intend to grow wings, my sister?" Rhaena laughed.
"No, but I shall borrow theirs. Viserion and Rhaegal are big enough to carry a single rider, I shall fly with one of them and use my magic to keep them under control. You saw that I have power over them, sister. What I told you about the fire…it is all true. I think it was born in me the moment they themselves hatched from their eggs. It was only after I received news of their existence I ever began to feel it…you must trust me sister. I will not disappoint you." Hearing such earnestness in Rhaena's voice, Daenerys felt herself beginning to waver. It was true, she had seen something happen that day in the catacombs when Rhaena had touched her dragons. They had melted and become gentle towards her as if they had known her their entire lives. More than that, Daenerys had noticed that Rhaena had a certain power about her. It was subtle, but Daenerys was convinced that Rhaena could persuade anyone to do anything for her with her sweet voice. Sometimes there would be a certain feeling or sound to her tone that would incite a feeling within her like a warmth or a fluttering which felt alien and unprompted, and always Rhaena would then have what she wanted. It had only been used to calm arguments and was exceedingly useful in the court, for one moment it would seem there would be violence but then Rhaena would speak and all would be held captive by her words until there would then be laughter, and all anger would be forgotten. Since there was no presence of the feeling in her voice, Daenerys assumed that she was not using her powers upon her at present.
"Where would you go? I assume if you have come to me with this request you have already decided upon a destination?" Now Rhaena smiled and Daenerys could not keep her lips from also curling upwards in response.
"Dorne. We would fly to Dorne." Swiftly the expression vanished and Daenerys all but flew to her feet.
"Dorne? Why would you go there?!"
"To take the Princess Myrcella Baratheon hostage from her retainers, of course. She is Cersei's only daughter. If we hold her, then our path to taking Westeros back will be that little bit easier. Cersei may be a conniving, bloodthirsty and ambitious bitch, but she loves her children more than anything. If we hold Myrcella, she would not dare do anything reckless against us." Rhaena had thought about it in great detail and decided that this was the wisest course of action. "The Seven Kingdoms are already in unrest and Cersei's grip on the throne is no doubt slipping away from her. She will want all her remaining children under her control, so it would not surprise me if she has already taken action to retrieve Myrcella back from Dorne. I have watched her all my life. I know how that woman thinks and how she will act…if we are not swift, this opportunity will vanish before us. Allow me to take Viserion and Rhaegal. The flight will be good for them and the Martells will not dare refuse us, we should be united in our desire for vengeance against the Lannisters in any case, and by the time we return, Rhaegal and Viserion will be happily tired and will return to their nests in the catacombs to rest for a while longer. We will have a hostage and a potential new ally in our fight for the Iron Throne." Even Daenerys was beginning to see the sense in this. It was good to have Rhaena and her knowledge of their enemies, better still that she was clever and insightful. Already she was beginning to seek out and depend upon her advice when Daenerys still often felt entirely lost and uncertain in her own conviction to rule such a wayward city. Rhaena had little better idea, all her knowledge merely came from books and observing others, but she formed solid opinions and presented them factually and without decoration. This was what Daenerys appreciated. Rhaena did not soften her blows, but neither was she condescending. They were learning together, and Daenerys was glad that she had someone to walk the path alongside.
"Very well." Finally relenting, Daenerys giggled when Rhaena suddenly grinned like a child. "I will agree, only on the condition that you promise me that I will not have lines of goatherders and farmers outside my door demanding compensation for their flocks."
"You have my word, my radiant queen." Bowing playfully, Daenerys rolled her eyes to her sister before asking when she planned to leave. "Immediately. Viserion and Rhaegal have waited long enough, and I do not want anyone else to snatch Myrcella away before me. I will go alone, too. Do not worry, I shall be perfectly safe with your children protecting me." Quickly stilling the alarmed look upon her twin's face at the mention of going alone, Rhaena swept forwards and pressed a kiss to her brow. "I do not know how fast they will fly, but I imagine it will take a great deal less time than either riding or sailing to arrive at Dorne. Listen for the return of great wings beating against the sky, my sister, for I shall be returning upon them." Exhilarated by the mere thought of being able to fly into the skies on the back of a dragon, Rhaena all but raced away from a dazed Daenerys who was already beginning to feel sickened by the recklessness of her sister and the thought of what dangers she might face with nothing but herself and two unruly dragons to keep her safe. Gods watch over her, for Rhaena Targaryen no longer prayed for their protection as she did not want it. They had never given it before, and now she could protect herself. What need did she have of gods when she had dragons?