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Dragonstone 104 AC
Aurion Targaryen
Aurion walked down through the halls of Dragonstone across the main hall, towards the courtyard where the Red Queen had landed, he passed the painted table, and the black dragon throne of Dragonstone carved out of pure obsidian. Across the hall he spied Ser Harrold Westerling escorting Viserys out.
" So he saw them arrive too ", he thought as he increased his pace. Almost rushing out of the hall into the courtyard and slipping directly onto the loyal kingsuards back.
He was met with scores of laughter as he straightened himself up, his face red with embarrassment. He looked up to be met by a laughing Viserys and giggling Laena. Even Princess Rhaenys who usually had a cold mask on her face allowed a small smile to creep through at this scene. The only relief was that Nyra wasn't here, thus he would not have to endure a month of teasing for this act of his.
" Sorry about that ", he said, rubbing the back of head with one hand as he wiped off the dust from his clothes with the other.
" No harm done done nephew ",Viserys said jovially ," Now I believe you have a lady to attend to "
He moved forward with a slight smile on his face, first to older women.
" My Lady, it is a pleasure to meet you again. ", He said, addressing Princess Rhaenys.
" The pleasure is mine, my prince. Now I believe I am not the lady you wish to talk to, so I'll leave you with my daughter and go have a chat with you dear uncle ", she said in her usual cheeky tone.
As the two walked off with Set Westerling following he moved to still giggling Laena.
"I can't believe you did this ….. Prince Aurion Targaryen slipping onto a kingsguards back, that is a story worthy of a gossip, I wonder what my ladies would say, I wonder …. what Nyra would say ", she said smirking.
"Laena …. ", He exclaimed ," You can't tell anyone, especially not Nyra … you know she would make my life hell if she knew, she loves doing that …. And don't tell her I said that…. "
She only smirked more, seeing it he facepalmed as he said ," Gods I am making this worse aren't I "
"You kind of are, anyways… where is the princess in question … how is it I have not been bombarded by her yet ?? ", She asked.
" She's gone flying ", he replied as they started walking across the courtyard down towards the main entrance of the fortress, Dragonstone was one place where they could move about freely without having guards follow them everywhere, this was considering the islands populace were extremely loyal to house Targaryen, most of the population were descent from loyal men who had accompanied Aenar The Exile with their families choosing to start a new life in a new land.
"Flying ….. hmmm she's younger than you isn't she ?? ", She said playfully
"Ohhh don't you get started on too, yes she is and she took upon Syrax on her seventh name day and ever since that day I have to hear how she's the youngest Targaryen to take to the sky and don't get me started on kepa he takes her flying almost everyday, while he is in King's Landing ", he replied.
" Well so why haven't taken to the sky's yet, it's not like you didn't have an opportunity, you could have even claimed Vermithor and don't give me you don't like him ", she asked.
" Well my lady last I remember, I said that we would claim our mounts together and I am a man of my word ", he said puffing his chest in pride.
She looked at him incredulously as he continued ," So what say you, shall we claim our mounts ?? ".
" Aurion, I mean I would love to but … but now … without informing anyone ??? ", She said with a tinge of worry in her voice.
" Why not ? '' He said ," Now is the perfect time , we could even surprise Nyra when she returns", he said, grabbing her hand as they rushed down the walkway and turned towards the dragonmont.
The two rushed through the small path behind the castle up the great smoking mountain that was the dragonmont, the great mountain sat like a snoring dragon, letting out slight rounds of smoke and ash through its vents to let the world know it was still alive yet unmoving, slow grumblings often filled the air as smoke rushed out of some vent. Aurion remembered Queen Visenya words about how the Valyrians used firebending magic to tame the great volcano in the center of the dragonmont, before using the lava found within it mixed with crushed dragonglass and a drop of dragon blood and tempered with dragonfire, while this was the jist of it no one had been able to replicate it since the Doom, possibly because they missed some essential hidden component that only the master builders of Old Valyria the men and women of House Mazvexes knew and used to create this great fortress . If properly defended with a full garrison and enough supplies Dragonstone was impregnable against any threats which included dragons to a certain degree. Only older and experienced dragons could breath fire hot enough to melt the walls of this stronghold.
After almost two hours of walking across the mountain, they finally spotted the main entrance to the mountain, both of them were exhausted beyond measure yet excited at the same time. Slowly they entered the mountain, the tunnel was lined beautifully with the solidified black rock forming a wave-like pattern. They moved slowly, the first tunnel led to a bigger cave lit up by a river of flowing magma and sunlight coming through a vent, several eggs lay beside the rivers of the molten metal and rocks. This was like a central chamber with various tunnels branching off, the two looked at each other nodding, this was a quest for both of them to take on their own, the other cannot interfere or intervene in anyway, they needed to claim their dragons by proving themselves and thus they separated Laena moving left while Aurion took the right.
Laena Velaryon :-
She had her doubts at first when Aurion suggested they claim a dragon yet they dissolved as they rushed towards the dragonmont hand in hand, soon her sense of adventure took over and the prospect that was almost frightening moments ago seemed like something really amazing and sometimes she wanted. Her muna would kill her for doing this without her being there, yet that was part of the thrill of it all, claiming a dragon and surprising her.
She knew she would have to suffer repercussions in some form or the other yet right now they didn't matter, she moved through the tunnels, she turned hearing a slight sounds, that almost sounded like a growl yet whoever was cause of it evaded her, she scanned the area yet found nothing thus she moved on.
Soon she found herself inside another huge chamber, with a heap of skeletons lying in the corner, whatever dragon called this chamber home was a ravenous beast, soon she came face to face to the host, it was a green she dragon, Vhagar the mount of Queen Visenya herself.
Laena steadied herself, breathing slowly as he approached the creature, was she really going to do this, as she moved Vhagar growled causing her to move back.
" Never show fear to a dragon "
Her mother's words flashed through her mind as she moved ahead again, " I and the blood of the dragons ", she told herself repeatedly as she did.
" Show it you are the blood of the dragon, show it you wish to claim it and are worthy of it "
She raised her hand remembering these words, slowly she moved, ignoring the growls the beast sent at her, she would claim her, it was her birthright, the right she had being the blood of the dragon, she was worthy of her.
Slowly closing the distance between them she put her hands on her snout, growing more accustomed to touching her by the moment. The dragon suprisingly responded with equal affection, receiving her touch well.
Slowly she moved towards its neck, Vhagar bowed its head letting her climb on and the next moment she was on her, her heart felt as if it would explode with excitement, as she traced her fingers across Vhagars scales.
" Sōvegon ", she commanded as she had seen her mother do a thousand times, her voice, little more than a whisper.
Vhagar responded with a roar as she took off, elated with the prospect of having a new rider, she raced through the tunnels and directly into the sky through a vent. Laena clutched onto her spikes, feeling the air as it rushed upon her face, it was a feeling of elation she had never felt before, she loved flying yet flying with someone on their dragon and flying on your own were two completely different experiences.
" Woohooooo ", she screamed as she drunk this elixir of life, it was a feeling she never wanted to end yet it did as Vhagar landed roaring near the top of the dragonmont, confused she scanned the surrounded to finally finding the cause, another dragon, a beast as black as the night with huge spikes on its back spikes and red thunder like stripes, that dragon was almost as big as Vhagar. It was coming their way and Vhagar didn't seem to want to move.
Fear gripped her as she realized what dragon it was, The Cannibal, the third and final dragon born from a egg laid by the Black Dread, she had heard stories of how it was a ravenous beast without mercy, that killed and feasted on hatchlings and eggs, once the old king and queen had tried hunting it down with their sons yet it evaded them on every turn, she was in no way prepared to start her dragon riding journey with a duel with such a beast on her first day riding her dragon yet what choice did she have, once again she shifted her glance to the beast, gripping Vhagars spike tightly she readied herself for anything that may come, yet no attack came, she gasped as the dragon landed in front of them letting out a defeating roar, only to be met with another by Vhagar in response but the roar was not what led to her gasp it was what or rather who was on the dragons back.
Sitting atop the Cannibal, the second largest and possibly most wild and dangerous dragon in existence was her best friend Aurion Targaryen, a boy merely seven name days old.
Aurion Targaryen :-
He walked through the tunnels, going deeper and deeper into the mountain, he came up nests of several dragons, yet paid them no heed, his destination was somewhere far deeper, in the heart of the mountain, his destination was the cave every dragon avoided, the last time a Targaryen visited it was during the time of Aneys the Weak, when the beast that inhabits that cave today was but a babe. Yet stories still came out of how the beast loved dragging its prey down there to slowly eat at its pleasure, how it stole eggs from the upper level of the mountain, waited for them to hatch and then ate the newly born hatchlings. No one alive had seen this beast, the last people to meet it were the old king, queen, his grand uncle Aemon and grandfather Baelon when they tried hunting it down.
He could almost hear his heart beat out of his chest as he descended down into the depths, everybit of his mind told him that this was a bad idea, that he would get himself eaten yet he still moved ahead, he needed to make a difference, and to do that he needed power, having a dragon that can go toe to toe with just about anyone or anything seemed was a good way to expand his power and influence decisions on a much bigger scale.
His interactions with dragons were limited to riding with Daemon and Baelon on Caraxes and Vhagar and riding Rhaegal in his previous life . But Rhaegal was but a puppy when compared to the dragons that lived in this time and Cannibal, well it was nearly three times its size. All he had to deal with it were his wits, knowledge of dragonlore and his heritage.
He passed through a rock bridge over a river of lava before climbing down a ridge, it was becoming increasingly hard to breathe in the hot air, he was completely drenched in sweat and covered in ash by the time he got to the bottom.
He gathered himself up as he studied his environment, it was possibly the antechamber that led to his destination.
He calmed himself, controlling his breath as he moved towards the beast's lair.
Slowly he entered the main cave, it was huge, with several rock formations all around with a vent that led up directly into the sky, rivers of lava pouring down like a waterfall into a lake, further away was the mouth of the great volcano itself, rumbling away.
But his eyes were fixed to the far left of the room, there amongst heaps of bones, lay the one he wanted to claim. The dragon stared at him, clearly angry at being distributed. It's blood red eyes looking like a ball of fire in a pitch black sky, or mayhaps like the comet that had appeared when his aunt had hatched dragons in his last life. The dragon growled and he felt as if the mountain itself was shaking.
Controlling his breath he moved towards it, only to be met with even more growls threatening retribution if he didn't back out immediately. As it's threats went unacknowledged the dragon rose from its nest and took a step toward Aurion roaring smoke erupting from its snout and let out a stream of black fire.
Aurion stopped immediately as he took cover behind a pillar, at this rate he would be burned before he even got to the dragons. He could never claim this beast by ordinary means, he possessed no dragonhorn and was in no position to do a dragon-binding ritual here. The only way forward was warging. He had to communicate with the beast and possibly come to some agreement with it.
He raised his head from behind the pillar, staring into those blood red eyes so full of malice and let go ….. as the world went dark.
When he next opened his eyes he was in some dark plane, the dragon was in front of him yet was smaller in size, it growled at him trying to roast him alive yet no fire came out of its mouth and that's when it cursed.
Wait the dragon cursed. He was in its mind wasn't he.
" Umbagon oh rōvēgrie zaldrīzes. Nyke nūmāzma ao daor ōdrikagon, iksan dārilaros aurion Targārien. Nyke carry se ānogar hen izulēpsa, nyke epagon ao naejot mazōregon nyke hae aōha kipagīros ", he said bowing.
The beast stopped trying to attack him, its eyes scrutinizing Aurion as he replied in a heavy cold voice ," Kipagīros, kipagīros vestrā. Dombo hae iā buzdari. Ao would belmon nyke bē hae iā lowly mount. Iksan daor buzdari se unlike ñuha kin nyke refuse naejot sagon hae bona "
"Aōha people emagon forgotten skorkydoso naejot treat īlva, se tolie kostagon mazōregon ziry kesan daor ", He continued letting out another roar ,"
Aurion looked directly at him and without fear replied ," Nyke would apologize syt skorkydoso ñuha ānogar treated ao, yn nyke beg ao tepagon nyke iā chance kesā dōrī sagon chained se mēre tubis nyke would release mirre ao kin hen pōja belma "
" Such iksis se kivio nyke mazverdagon va ñuha honor hae dārilaros hen ānogar ", he continued.
The dragon looked at him in disbelief before replying ," Ao ȳdragon rōva udra syt iā valītsos gaomagon puny mind magic naejot restrain nyke, nyke hope ao realize nyke would pryjagon rȳ ziry. Skoros kessa save ao pār, issi ao daor zūgagon hen dying "
Aurion replied, a slow slime creeping up his face almost as he mocked the notion of dying ," Dying, ha, eman morghūltan twice till sir se jiōraton returned each jēda, se kessa nyke ȳdragon rōva udra syt iā valītsos, yet nyke mazverdagon daor promises nyke daor gaomagon se emagon daor doubt isse ñuha ability naejot deliver skoros nyke promised ao. Lēda ao rȳ ñuha paktot lo emilā nyke ".
The dragon stared at him in disbelief before his gaze softened ," Ao. Iksā mirros else. Twice returned vestrā, kessa nyke feel ziry iksā blessed ondoso se izula ampā pōntāla, sȳz ivestragī nyke hen hen bisa magic se nyke would mazōregon ao yn ivestragī nyke warn ao, nāpāsagon nyke se kesā zālagon "
Aurion studied the dragon for a minute before releasing the spell, had it been any man he would never have trusted their mere word yet this was a creature of fire and blood, his future mount and trust was something that formed the base of relationship between a dragon and it's rider.
Soon both were back in the real world and slowly Aurion made it way over to the dragon, his hands raised, slowly he put it on to its snout, stroking it in the classic dragonlord way, the dragon first flinched, he had never felt such human affection or contact before, this sensation was foreign to him. Slowly but surely he relaxed as Aurion continued to stroke it's snout and then it's neck.
" Arrax, ao kessa sagon brōztagon arrax ", he told him and he roared in agreement, clearly happy to receive such a name.
Slowly he climbed atop him, grabbing him great spikes as he prepared to take off.
" Sōvegon " , he said breathlessly. And the next moment it felt as if the world moved. He was up in the air speeding up the vent towards the sky.
It was unlike anything he had ever experienced, his ride on Rhaegal was nothing when compared to this. The power, the authority he commanded when atop a dragon, he felt it. He answered to no man or god when he was in the sky. Everyone else were but mere mortals, he … he was a dragonlord.
Soon he spied upon Vhagar, the green titan with Laena on her back, smiling as he commanded Arrax to fly towards them. It appeared as if Vhagar had seen them beforehand and landed atop the dragonmont. And thus he steered Arrax to land before them.
They landed greeting Vhagar and Laena with a roar, that Vhagar returned and Laena, well she was first gasping then gaping like a fish.
Both of them diamounted and walked towards each other, Aurion with his signature smile on his face.
"You …. You are a madman, The Cannibal of all dragons … The Cannibal … are you insane you could have died, you are lucky he didn't make you his snack ", she raged at him before hugging him a bit forcefully.
" Arrax… his name is Arrax ", he answered, breaking the hug. As he prepared himself to receive all the chastising that he was going to get from her.
But in the end that didn't matter, he was now a Dragonrider to one the biggest dragons in existence, Daemon would be proud of him and Nyra she would be so jealous.
Princess Rhaenys Velaryon née Targaryen :-
She walked through the halls of Dragonstone, with Viserys beside her. They chatted away carelessly. As they moved through the halls she couldn't help but reminisce about the time she had spent here, just her, kepa and muna.
The two of them would often go flying on Caraxes, at night before she went to sleep. They would fly to the top of the dragonmont where he would show her the stars before sneaking her back much to the displeasure of her mother.
The both of them would personally take care of her lessons, helping her in every way possible. With kepa teaching her swordplay and muna politics. Once she had complained about the number of lessons she had to take and he had answered.
" You are my heir Rhae, one day you would sit on the Iron Throne as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms after me, if you don't learn now how would you rule then "
Yet it had not been so….
She remembered the time Uncle Baelon and Aunt Alyssa used to visit on Vhagar and Meleys. Sometimes bringing with them a baby Viserys and even Daemon.
She loved her uncle and aunt as much as she did her parents, at a time she wanted to be like them, both of them. Careless and free as her aunt and brave as her uncle.
Yet for the last nine years of his life she was nothing more than formal with him, even cold sometimes despite knowing he had no role to play in what happened.
She looked outside bringing her thoughts to the present situation, namely Laena and Aurion.
The two had been growing closer by the day since the great council exchanging letters almost every week and even a blind man could see the affections that existed between them, while it was a good match, far better than the ones Corlys suggested so far and while she was not explicitly against a match between them she still had her doubts about the boy. The boy was Daemon's son. While completely unlike Daemon in his attitude, there was no doubt he would grow to become a handsome lad perhaps even more so than his father, he was quick with a sword and by all accounts an intelligent lad.
But the question in her mind was whether the boy had inherited his father's roguish ways for she had no intentions of having her daughter marry someone who would stray from her bed and go on about deflowering girls and bedding half of Flea Bottom.
Pushing such thought out of her mind she looked to the sky, the sun was inching closer to the horizon by the moment. The two had been gone for hours and if they were not so young she would have suspected something ulterior had happened.
Even Rhaenyra had returned, concerned she walked out to the courtyard where Meleys was resting, when she spotted it. Two dragons were approaching the castle fast. The color from her face drained out as she recognised them as Vhagar and The Cannibal.
She rushed over to Meleys and mounting her, had Vhagar gone rogue, why was she with the Cannibal. If indeed it was so they were in a fix. There were but two tamed dragons here Meleys and Syrax. And only Meleys could fight. Alone she could take on Vhagar but The Cannibal no…
Viserys and Rhaenyra rushed out into the courtyard surrounded by their knights.
" Fools ", she thought, what would they do against two rogue dragons.
" Sōvegon ", she commanded, taking flight, Meleys rose up roaring as the two titans approached. She flew towards them and that's when she got the surprise of her life. Atop them sat her daughter and nephew.
For a moment she forze before commanding Meleys to land.
All three dragons landed with their riders diamounting, she rushed towards her daughter pulling her into a embrace.
"Are you alright, are you hurt , what madness possessed you to claim Vhagar ", she asked breathlessly.
" I am fine muna ", she said ," In fact I have never been any better, Vhagar is amazing and if anyone here is mad it has to be Aurion, I mean he claimed The Cannibal… I mean Arrax … look at it "
And she did. There it was The Cannibal no Arrax. With the boy petting it while Laena did the same to Vhagar.
Both Viserys and Rhaenyra had arrived by then and while Viserys stood by her admiring his nephew Rhaenyra rushed forward to talk to them.
Yet her eyes were fixed on Aurion and her daughter.
And in her mind was only one thought, Aurion Targaryen could very well become their most powerful ally or most dangerous enemy.
Valyrian.
Umbagon oh rōvēgrie zaldrīzes. Nyke nūmāzma ao daor ōdrikagon, iksan dārilaros aurion Targārien. Nyke carry se ānogar hen izulēpsa, nyke epagon ao naejot mazōregon nyke hae aōha kipagīros.
Translation.
Wait oh great dragon. I mean you no harm, I am Prince Aurion Targaryen. I carry the blood of the forty, I ask you to accept me as your rider.
Valyrian.
Kipagīros, kipagīros vestrā. Dombo hae iā buzdari. Ao would belmon nyke bē hae iā lowly mount. Iksan daor buzdari se unlike ñuha kin nyke refuse naejot sagon hae bona.
Translation.
Rider, rider you say. No more like a slave. You would chain me up like a lowly mount. I am no slave and unlike my kin I refuse to be like that.
Valyrian.
Aōha people emagon forgotten skorkydoso naejot treat īlva, se tolie kostagon mazōregon ziry kesan daor.
Translation.
Your people have forgotten how to treat us, the others may accept it , I will not.
Valyrian.
Nyke would apologize syt skorkydoso ñuha ānogar treated ao, yn nyke beg ao tepagon nyke iā chance kesā dōrī sagon chained se mēre tubis nyke would release mirre ao kin hen pōja belma.
Translation.
I would apologize for how my blood treated you, but I beg you give me a chance you will never be chained and one day I would release all you kin from their chains.
Valyrian.
Such iksis se kivio nyke mazverdagon va ñuha honor hae dārilaros hen ānogar.
Translation.
Such is the promise I make on my honor as prince of the blood.
Valyrian.
Ao ȳdragon rōva udra syt iā valītsos gaomagon puny mind magic naejot retain nyke, nyke hope ao realize nyke would pryjagon rȳ ziry. Skoros kessa save ao pār, issi ao daor zūgagon hen dying.
Translation.
You speak big words for a boy using puny mind magic to restrain me, I hope you realise I would break through it. What will save you then, are you not afraid of dying.
Valyrian.
Dying, ha, eman morghūltan twice till sir se jiōraton returned each jēda, se kessa nyke ȳdragon rōva udra syt iā valītsos, yet nyke mazverdagon daor promises nyke daor gaomagon se emagon daor doubt isse ñuha ability naejot deliver skoros nyke promised ao. Lēda ao rȳ ñuha paktot lo emilā nyke.
Translation.
Dying, ha, I have died twice till now and got returned each time, and yes I speak big words for a boy, yet I make no promises I cannot keep and have no doubt in my ability to deliver what I promised you. With you at my side if you will have me.
Valyrian.
Ao. Iksā mirros else. Twice returned vestrā, kessa nyke feel ziry iksā blessed ondoso se izula ampā pōntāla, sȳz ivestragī nyke hen hen bisa magic se nyke would mazōregon ao yn ivestragī nyke warn ao, nāpāsagon nyke se kesā zālagon
Translation.
You. You are something else. Twice returned you say, yes I feel it you are blessed by the fourteen themselves, fine let me out of this magic and I would accept you. But let me war. you betray me and you would burn.
Valyrian.
Arrax, ao kessa sagon brōztagon arrax.
Translation.
Arrax, you shall be called Arrax.
Authors Note -So that's it, I know some people may be disappointed with the choice of dragon for Aurion and you might argue it makes himtoo overpowered yet you must remember our hero is not one forging in own destiny he is one trying to change history and for that he should have the best tools at his disposal.
So I decided to have multiple POVs in this chapter.
Next up -
Aemmas death and Daemons banishment.
And possibly A Rogue Prince POV.
Please comment your suggestions and criticisms down below.