As the dawn broke the horizon, all the couples were in blissful sleep, except Aulix and Taron. The girl they'd schooled and pleasured, was snoring, on a fur near the fireplace, naked.
Taron went to put a blanket on her. "That was fun. She'll probably wake up ready to eat a whole boar herself."
"Tell me what you saw earlier, when she came to join us."
"I think it was Arya's younger brother Bran and a crow. But I can't explain it."
Aulix made him sit on the bed beside him. Checking to confirm the girl was dead asleep, he put his fingers on Taron's temple, like he had done to Melisandre, before she'd met death at Arya's hands. "Stay still and look into my eyes…. Damn it. Shit's gonna get complicated once we get to White Harbor."
"You got that from my head?"
"What you saw, came from the three-eyed raven. It's with Bran Stark, and is his link to greenseeing. Raven's are often mistaken for crows, because they look similar, but are bigger than crows. They're family and why I like using crows. Ravens tend to carry the past, to the extent you can get lost in it."
Taron didn't understand what Aulix was explaining about all the connections, other than crows being cousins to ravens. "That thing you just did with your hands, is that only because of you giving me life again?"
"Not really, but you do need to be touched by magic for me to see like that into your mind." Aulix leaned back into Taron's arms. "Just hold me a while. I don't want to start this day yet."
They napped on the bed, until there was a knock on the door. "Taron, Aulix, time to get up!" Arya shouted on the other side.
Taron got up, threw Aulix his underwear and pants, put on his and opened the door. Arya smirked when she saw the girl sleeping on the floor, but said nothing about it.
"You eat yet?" Aulix asked her, putting on his shirt.
"No, but Gendry wants to get started soon."
"Right. Let's go. The girl can take care of herself when she wakes."
Arya teased, "are you sure she'll be able to walk?"
"We're surprised you can," Taron bantered right back.
She laughed and punched his arm playfully. They met Gendry by the stairs and he said good morning. "It's gonna be a long day."
"And not as enjoyable as our long night," Aulix winked at him.
"They had a girl with them too," Arya explained.
"Nicely done guys," Gendry congratulated. He sighed, "we've a lot to finish up, before we sail tomorrow night."
"How will I help?"
"Arya you could be our go-fetch-me. Or see what Byt and Tam need."
Gendry noticed, "your group seems to remain a team, even when other powerful people are around."
"It's what we're use to. Also less confusion and annoyance for everyone," Taron clarified.
They were still eating when Tam, Byt, and the three junior alchemists joined them. Tyrion and Jorah, escorted Daenerys and Missandei to the table also. Everyone stood and bowed to the Mother of Dragons. They sat once she did. After a few moments of eating in silence, Gendry began the conversation first.
"After Aulix and I finish the breast plate for Drogon, will you be available to help us get it on him Queen Daenerys? We'll also need to do a test, to see how the leather straps function under stress from flight."
"Aulix, just ask Drogon yourself, since he seemed to welcome you last time." Daenerys suggested.
"You know as well as I do, he won't let anyone ride him, unless you are there too." Aulix didn't use any of her titles, yet she didn't correct him.
"Alright, send for me when you're ready."
Gendry felt uncomfortable with the exchange. "Thank you My Queen."
Addressing Byt next Aulix spoke, "have you had a chance to see what we've got here to work with?"
"Yes. It's limited, but I brought a lot with me from King's Landing."
Tam clarified, "she's referring to the those big ass packs we carried with us. Even the juniors were packed with Byt's stuff."
Curious as to what they planned on doing or making, Tyrion asked. "What's the plan?"
Taron chose to reply. "Byt and those teenagers are alchemists. We plan on making wildfire bombs, using dragonglass. There will be in shards, submerged in the wildfire liquid. Once lit, it burns a long time, sticking to everything and the shards might just be a double tap. It's least effect would be to slow down the white walkers, but we hope it kills them. A well aimed fire lit arrow is all that's needed to start it's destruction."
Byt added, "we don't need to make the wildfire here, although if it's effective, I just might. I have small clay vessels with wildfire inside."
"Is it not dangerous to transport?" Tyrion asked.
"Perhaps, but I've taken every precaution to prevent an accident."
It was her confidence that reassured them, more so than her words. Jorah thoughtfully said, "your group has many interesting ideas on how to defeat our enemy. We are lucky to have you on our side."
Tam mumbled, "you don't know the half of it."
They finished eating, bowed to Daenerys and split up. Taron, Aulix and Gendry went to the forge. Tam, Byt, Arya and the kids, left together. At the forge, Gendry showed the guys the breast plate he'd created for Drogon. During careful inspection, Aulix gave his opinion.
"Well made, I see you crafted it like a horse's breast plate. But since Drogon doesn't have his front legs coming out of the bottom of his chest, like a horse does, the plate can extend lower. It's thin, but made with good metal. Did you raid the weapons room here?"
"Thanks and Queen Daenerys agreed that since normal swords were no use against killing the white walkers, I could use their metal."
Taron mused, "the Night King is born of magic, Drogon too. This needs to be fused with blood and dragon fire, if it's to withstand the ice javelin of death."
Gendry nodded. "When I was captured by Melissandre, she used my blood via leeches and thew them into fire. She claimed the Lord of Light spoke to her via visions that way. I don't understand magic, but I know blood and fire are important factors. So Aulix, how are we going to do this?"
"We don't need Daenerys until the plate is ready to be mounted. I'll see if I can get Drogon to lend us his flame. First let's get some men to help us carry the plate to the beach."
"Do we need my hammer?" Gendry asked.
"Bring it, but I don't think so," Taron answered.
With men from the dragonglass mine helping them, they carried the dragon breast plate out into the open, on the beach. The mining crew left and Aulix sent forth two sea-eagles to find Drogon. Carefully the birds back winged in front of the big dragon, by his head, on level with it's eyes. Then they flew towards the beach. Thankfully the big dragon launched himself skyward, flew circles above the beach cove and then came to rest on the sand. It shook its massive head and snorted.
In high valyrian Aulix asked the dragon to give it's flame, when requested by him. Even though he couldn't tell if the dragon would comply, he began the process. "All three of us, must let our blood pool on the plate. Don't cut your hands, use your bicep. Byt's salve can help heal it fast."
The three of them cut themselves and let the blood seep from the wounds, to drip onto the metal. Using the hand of the arm he had just cut, Aulix mixed the blood and smeared it all over the breast plate's surface. Then he stood and moved away, as did Gentry and Taron. He then looked at the dragon and asked for it's flame. How Drogon knew not to make his flame so hot that it melted the metal, they knew not. Nor how he knew exactly when to stop it's blast. Aulix came forward and held out his hand, to which the dragon sniffed, allowing the man to caress his muzzle. Then rocking back on his haunches, the dragon launched himself into the air and flew away.
"I still can't believe he lets you do that," Taron said in awe.
Gendry added, "I can't believe the balls you have to even try it."
Aulix looked at the breast plate and announced, "it's done. All we now need to do, is construct the leather harness that will secure the plate to the dragon."
"Can you two handle it? I want to make as many weapons as possible out of the dragonglass, before we need to leave."
"Sure Gendry. We'll come help you after Daenerys does the test ride. Also, have you made arrow heads out of the glass?"
"Barrels full. I didn't bother making the shafts myself, Daenerys assigned some of her men to do that. Many have been assembled already, but we can also make them on the ship, while we wait to arrive in White Harbor."
"Good idea. Okay leave the harness to us," Aulix announced.
No one stopped at their tasks, until Daenerys arrived on Drogon. The dragon was exceptionally patient, while Gendry, Taron and Aulix worked on fixing the harness and breast plate to him.
Daenerys shouted down, once they were airborne, "it doesn't seem to affect his launch or flight."
Aulix sat down on the sand and warged into a sea-eagle. He flew high, in order to watch the movement of the dragon, without getting in the way of it's flight path or the wind currents caused by it's wings. He noticed too, that the mother of dragons sat on a saddle, something he hadn't seen previously. He wondered who's idea that had been. Returning to his own mind, Aulix gave Gendry a thumbs up. Yet they still waited for Daenerys's assessment.
She returned, dismounted and then patted Drogon affectionately. "You three have outdone yourselves. Thank you Gendry for creating this breast plate, to protect my son." He bowed, in thanks to her praise. Her next words shocked him. "Come, give him your hand."
Gendry obeyed, gathering his courage to not shrink away from the majestic beast. She held his wrist and put his hand on the dragon's nose, between it's nostrils. The dragon gave a rumble, deep within it's throat, but it's mouth remained closed. Daenerys smiled and released Gendry's hand. The man stepped back and bowed down on one knee.
Aulix's voice broke the moment. "Shall we ride together? I need to feel how much wind resistance there is on his back, to see if it's possible to stand upon him during flight and unleash some arrows. Taron will meet us on the peak closest to the water, with a few of Gendry's new dragonglass arrows."
Daenerys rose an eyebrow at him, but his eyes were connected to Drogon, so the expression was lost. "If my son allows you to stand on him, then who am I to forbid it."
"Thank you My Lady," Aulix said in unison with Taron.
It creeped her out, and few things could do that. However she appreciated this sudden show of respect. "You mentioned before, that Tam was skilled at balancing at great heights. Bring him too."
Later, when Tam was told what was expected of him, he said, "the crazy shit you get me into Aulix, seriously! I'm good with a bow and arrow, but give me some javelins too."
Byt wasn't happy. "I'll kick your ass if he gets hurt!"
Aulix smiled and cupped her chin, his face inches away. "Promise?"
"You'll not be able to charm your way out of this one," she cooly answered.
Daenerys commanded their attention, "if this works, we'll see if anyone can ride on my other son and do the same."
Arya asked, "does Rhaegal also have a breast plate?"
"No, there's no time to make him one too," Gendry explained.
Looking at the half-sister of Jon, Daenerys announced, "Arya do you want to ride with us?"
Reverently Arya answered, "may I Queen Daenerys?"
A nod and smile, encouraged exactly that. Holding a hand down, from the back of the dragon, Daenerys helped Arya to get on the dragon. "For now, just help those daring men bring this idea to fruition."