Aulix, Taron, Gendry, Kiren and Aegerys got on Drogon. All five of them were armed, but it was just a precaution in case the dragon left while they were working on the sword. Before they took flight, Gendry downed a potion that Byt had given him, to prevent nausea while airborne.
The air was cooler than expected, which made Aegerys unhappy. "It's so damn cold."
"You should've listened to your mother and worn the fur lined cloak," Kiren shouted, above the wind noise. He asked, "do you think the currents are like this because of the deep freeze in Westeros, Taron?" He knew not to ask Aulix, who rarely answered any questions.
"As with everything, that long winter throws even nature off balance."
"So if we win, how will it ever get warm enough to melt away all that ice?"
Kiren laughed, "maybe with dragon farts." Drogon snorted and he immediately apologized. "No disrespect to dragons!"
Aegerys took his hand off the saddle and put it against the dragon. "Not even his breath could do that and we can't torch all the land either."
Taron gave forth some information. "There was once a dragon, who's flame didn't burn. The Targaryens had no use for it. But someone Aulix met said it could melt ice, without hurting what lies beneath."
"So if I get frozen it can revive me?" Kiren asked.
"No, you'll still we dead, but not encased in ice."
"Where's this dragon now?" Gendry inquired, joining the conversation at last.
Aulix replied, "we might find it with the other stone dragons. Then again it might just be a story told to give hope to the people."
"Why do you even bother answering questions? You always are vague and create more." Gendry grumbled.
Kiren wondered out loud. "Why did we, Aegerys and I, have to come on this trip, when dad's the only one who can work valyrian steel?"
"Now that's a smart question, son."
"We can't wait 100 days for the new Lightbringer. All five of us will be working on it in shifts."
"Ah, the reasons for your methods in the past, come to light." Aegerys said thoughtfully. "But the sword I forged, even under Gendry's watchful eye, was total shit."
Aulix remained silent and his eyes locked with Taron, who had opened his mouth to reply and then closed it, not saying a word. It wasn't until the night, when the boys slept, that Gendry asked the only question that had nagged him since he learned Aulix's intent with the red star's chunk.
"You mentioned forging a new Lightbringer. Arya told me that in the legend of that sword, Amor Ahai had to kill his wife. If Aegerys is the true 'One That Was Promised', then who is his Nissa Nissa? And if I'm forging the sword, will I have to kill Arya, because I won't do it. The world can be a frozen hell, before I ever do that."
"Yes that falls on Aegerys. He teases Rayanna and Emeryt, but never has gone beyond that. Only he knows who he truly loves." Taron glanced over at the boys with a look of affection.
"We've tried to shelter the kids from the harsh realities we had to deal with as children. The magical world is cruel. I'd rather stay ordinary."
Aulix chuckled, "Gendry you've never been just ordinary. Not before Arya met you and not after."
"You know what I meant. And I can work the steel into the sword, even if it takes a hundred days and a hundred nights, the boys don't need to handle that burden."
"Aegerys, Aulix and you will be doing most of the work. Kiren and I will be providing food both for the flame and us. We'll support you guys through the whole process and keep everyone safe." Almost as an after thought, Taron added to his explanation. "Kiren can work in forming the sword, if you want."
"To extract what we need from the red star chunk, will be different from any other time you've made a sword. And yes the whole process involves a lot of magic. We'll try to get it done sooner than later, but only you can tell us how long it might take."
They flew through the night and by the evening of the next day, Drogon took them down out of the sky. Aulix explained that although they were not yet there, the dragon needed to go hunt. They'd make camp and also have something hot. Taron had a pouch of powdered coffee and he brought out a kettle. They were by a strip of fresh water that was too small to be a river, but too big to be a stream. Everyone filled their water bags and canteens, while the coffee brewed. Aegerys found the process interesting, but declined having a cup of it, after seeing Kiren spit it out and hand the remaining liquid to his father. Next Aulix brought a rabbit out of hiding and Taron killed it. Gendry got it set up to roast on the fire. The smell made everyone's stomach rumble in complaint.
That night, everyone went to sleep satisfied. The adults would sleep in shifts, both to watch out for Drogon's return and for danger. Nothing happened until the early morning. Drogon's back flapping to land, stirred up a dust storm and knocked both Aegerys and Kiren on their asses. Taron was still laughing at them, while they mounted the dragon. Gendry complained that he hopped it was the last day they'd have to spend flying and Aulix took pity on him and confirmed that they'd be on location late afternoon.
From the air it was easy to see the exact area of where the chunk of red star had fallen. There was a massive scorched area of forest and a dragon sized crater sat at the centre of the burn. To Gendry's surprise the red star piece was aflame. Drogon landed and promptly went to sleep. Everyone set up camp, far enough away, that the heat from the still burning meteor would keep them warm all night. The adults all went up close to look at the white-hot rock, but only Gendry and Aulix could handle the heat, Taron stepped back.
"Do you see anything when you look into the flame dad?" Kiren asked and was ignored.
"Everyone cut your less dominant hand, let the blood drip onto Gendry's forge hammer," Aulix commanded. Once completed, he gave over the hammer. "It's time to begin, are you ready?"
"You really think I can do this?" Gendry asked.
"Yes," both Aulix and Taron replied in unison.
Gendry gave a nod and then let the hammer fall on the rock. It's not that he could see what they sought, but it was like he could feel the magic inside it, reaching towards him. "Kiren, bring me the valyrian steel."
Kiren brought the requested steel and watched as his father drove them all into the red star chunk, using the blood covered hammer. When the swords were buried half way deep into it, he finally smiled. Stepping back he gave the hammer to Aulix.
"Add Drogon's flame. Have him melt the steel down."
"I'm not fire proof. Aegerys, you must stand by it and ask Drogon to add his flame. Do it like I taught you."
Kiren, Gendry and Taron looked expectantly at the young future Emperor. The teenager came forward and spread his arms. "Drogon can you give us your flame?"
The dragon opened one eye, staring first at the boy and then at Aulix. After a few minutes, he raised his head and shot a continuous stream of his fire at the requested spot. Aegerys, was not affected by the flame. They couldn't even see him, due to the volume of fire. It wasn't until Drogon stopped, that they saw him and the pooled melted steel. Gendry took back his hammer and, got to work again. He didn't have his anvil, due to the weight was too much to transport, but the rock which he worked on, acted as an anvil too.
"Shit I should've taken off my clothes before doing that. I always forget." Aegerys grumbled until Kiren gave him clothes to put on.
"It still freaks me out, that not even your hair burns…. I wonder if you could withstand wildfire."
Aegerys replied, "no thanks, I don't want to ever have to test that…. How come these pants fit me perfectly?"
"You're mom gave me an extra pair of clothes just in case."
Aegerys laughed, "so you did tell mom what was going to happen." He looked at Aulix, who just gave him a wink in return.
Gendry's hammer was the only sound in the area for hours. Aulix checked on the progress every so often and asked if he should take over, but the smith declined the offer. He only took breaks to eat. After two days of no sleep, Taron suggested he stop, while Aulix took over the smith work. It was pure exhaustion that let Gendry sleep through the noise of the hammer. When Aulix began to tire and Gendry still slept on, Taron too joined in the work. And so this three man cycle went on for days and many nights. The boys were not idle, as they explored the area of forest, Aegerys was taught by Aulix how to ask Drogon to do what he wanted and they also continued to train in fighting. The boys had been asked by Byt and were assisted the most by Taron, on collecting roots, berries and leaves of plants that didn't look familiar. Future poisons and elixirs would be made from what they would bring back home.
It wasn't until fifty days had past, that Kiren and Aegerys both joined the sword forging work. The latter did more, under the watchful eye of both his friend and Gendry. The ring of the hammer, had a different sound to it, now that steel was taking shape. The boys were growing homesick and were short tempered, but their bickering was silenced immediately by just a frowning look from Aulix. The red star chunk had stopped burning, almost at the same time that the sword began to take shape. No one noticed this except Gendry and Aulix. Another ten days passed before the others realized this too.
"When can we go home? I miss my bed and the food at the castle." Aegerys complained and Kiren agreed.
"That depends on you Aegerys and Gendry."
"If the sword says it's ready, then you'll know it's time to go home," Gendry announced.
Kiren nodded in agreement, "dad's right, but I think another ten days or so should do it. He'll do the quench and as long as the sword doesn't warp or crack, we'll be heading home."
Taron and Aulix exchanged a glance. The boys were forgetting that once the sword was done and they returned home, Aegerys would have a painful decision to make. Both had explained what was involved with choosing a Nissa Nissa, but perhaps the boy was choosing to ignore the end result, because it was too painful.
Gendry knew what the two men were worried about and he reminded them about the past. "Arya was very young when she watched her father's decapitation. If she can handle what was thrown at her and come out on top, so will the blood son of the Queen. Daenerys would do whatever it takes to protect her people from becoming slaves of the Night King. We all know that. And unlike Arya, he's got a strong support system."
"She was lucky to have met you," Aulix agreed.
"No. It was I who had all the luck." Gendry smiled and winked at his son.
Aegerys returned from relieving himself. "Your dad's nepotism is off the charts when it comes to your mom."
"Yeah, I get to see it all the time," Kiren groaned.
No one added to the conversation and the task of choosing a Nissa Nissa was set aside. Weeks continued to come and go, when at last Gendry did the quench. The sword was perfect, but it would not become the new Lightbringer without love's sacrifice. They all knew it too.
Kiren waited until Aegerys and his father were asleep. He got up and walked towards Drogon. The dragon opened one eye, but didn't move otherwise. "I wish you could tell us what's going to happen. I bet you know better than anyone. I don't know if I could forgive Aegerys if Rayanna is his chosen. But if she's not and our Queen is, what will you do?"
Aulix came and stood beside the boy. "Whether Drogon could tell us or not, it won't change the outcome."
"But if it's Daenerys, how can we keep Drogon from killing Aegerys?"
"That's not something for you to worry about."
"Dad knows this, knows that my sister's life could be at risk and still he made this sword…."
"He understands, just like the Queen does, that sometimes one life must be sacrificed for the greater good."
The dragon moved his head, so that Aulix could touch him. He opened his mouth wide and sulphuric breath, made both man and boy scrunch up their noses. Taking a closer look, Aulix saw why. "Get me one of my daggers. Looks like a bone is stuck between two of Drogon's teeth and his gum."
Kiren did as he was asked and returned with the knife. "What if Drogon accidentally bites you?"
"It's a risk I will take, because if the dragon doesn't feel well and refuses to fly, it will take us way too long to return home."
Aulix had Kiren push the dragon's tongue out of the way. "Hurry up, his tongue is heavy and I think his saliva is eating away at my leather vest!"
"Don't panic, you'll be fine." Aulix reassured, "Drogon knows I've done this for Nymeria before. This time it's just on much larger teeth… Put down his tongue now and grab onto the bone, you pull as hard as you can."
Together they got the bone loose. Kiren held it up to one of Drogon's eyes. "We got it, do you feel better?"
The dragon swung his head round and let the boy pet his nose. Then promptly went back to sleep.
"I guess that's it… I never want to be that close to his teeth again, thanks."
"Tomorrow we fly home. Try to get some sleep."