CHAPTER 8; THE BEAST OF AURION
A week later Vaegon and the two thousand strong royal guard returned to King's Landing. there were several complaints about the dissolution of the kingdom of the Valley, and the factual elimination of the Arryn, since Vaegon had decreed that all the male line of the Arryn house would go to the wall or the gallows, instead the women of the Arryn house would be forced to enter the silent sisters.
In the meeting of the private council, the orders were given to modify the statute of the six kingdoms, from that moment on there would be five kingdoms. Ansel informed him that many lords complained about the measures in various areas of the kingdom, and it is that the Arryn house was more than four millennia old, and until just a century ago they had reigned in the Valley, so many considered that the punishment it was too excessive, since the new king had decreed that all the señoríos of the Valley were strictly prohibited from raising levies of soldiers, and preparations were even being made for a "pacification" force that in practice was an absolute occupation. The debugging would begin soon.
"House Arryn broke the half century of peace that began in my father's reign" Vaegon croaked sitting on the iron throne in front of the entire court, while the end of the rebellion was celebrated "House Gardener reigned the Dominion for eight millennia , and Balerion reduced them to ashes in a single day…grateful they should be that the name Arryn dies having at least regained some of its lost honor"
Of course no one dared to dispute Vaegon's words. He wasn't a great general like Aegon the Conqueror, but he already gave off a stronger and more martial image. Now he just had to deal with Daemon's problem and he would already have consolidated his power. But that same night, the funerals of Viserys and Aenma took place, with the real ashes of both. The ceremony was very intimate, with only Vaegon, the Privy Council, and the Velaryons in attendance. There was also little Rhaenyra, who had been brought from Rosby, where her parents, after being unable to reach Dragonstone by the Velaryon fleet, left her in the fortress under the care of the lord, who, after learning of Vaegon's victory, had brought immediately the girl to the capital.
Vaegon comforted the poor girl, he truly felt sorry for the girl, and what he had become. Viserys Targaryen was not a good father, he had spoiled her to such an extent that he had spoiled her. It was not for less, the three bastards that he had had with Harwin Strong, and the hypocrisy and stupidity of Viserys himself, had been the main cause of the most devastating war in Westeros, since the battle of dawn. He then he lifted her into her arms and comforted her.
When Otto Hightower proposed sending her to Oldtown as a sept, or inducting her into the order of the silent sisters, Vaegon flatly refused. He wouldn't waste such a valuable asset, that he had his own last name from him.
"I'll take care of her," Vaegon said. "And make her a good woman. From this very moment she becomes my ward, and I would appreciate it if you would not suggest something so cruel to me again" he spoke firmly to his hand, who bowed to him, as Vaegon walked away with the girl in his arms followed by his royal guard. .
Arriving at the little girl's room, he ordered the maids to bring dinner to her room. There Vaegon gave him a vegetable soup for supper, and an apple for dessert, which he himself peeled. So when she was ready to get away from her, he tucked her in and said goodnight after kissing her forehead.
Alone in his office while dining on strips of roast suckling pig, with hot bread and a glass of cider, he thought about the poor princess, and what plans he might have for her "he could hand her over to Mors Martell to get Dorne incorporated. Rhaenyra was not yet linked to Syrax, so there was no real danger" he thought as he put some meat on the bread "Binding her to Laenor is out of the question... and I will never allow Daemon to claim her" he already imagined Strong's bastards or a Daemon making a Darkfire claim. But then there was another option "I could also marry Rhaenyra" Vaegon thought "she's fertile, there's no doubt about that, and in seven years I could marry her" he thought "although perhaps I should marry Laena" which was the best option , because inevitably Laenor's homosexuality would soon come to light, as well as the inability to have children, so the sea serpent would have no better option than to marry her to Vaegon, before the marriage proposals began in the council .
In any case, there was no time to lose, and two days later, the Velaryon army plus four thousand soldiers from the Crownlands, along with the three thousand soldiers from the house of the seahorse. Vaegon flew on Vhagar's back the next day, and they arrived at Dragonstone Island, a couple of days before his army.
There he was received by the garrison with all honors, and Vaegon welcomed the banquet of hot bread, roast meat, and wine from the grate in his honor, while Vhagar devoured a pair of cows outside the castle. After sleeping in the room where the conqueror once lived, Vaegon toured the castle. He was really amazed by the architecture of the fortress, but even more by the construction techniques. The ancient Valyrians fashioned their strongholds out of black stone and dragonfire. But it was a real shame that art was lost to the doom of Valyria, "if Dragonstone was no more than a distant watchtower, how majestic must be the towers of the Valyrian dragonlords," Vaegon said, pacing the rooms.
And even he wandered around the surroundings of the fortress. Dragonstone was truly bleak, there were just a few small villages that lived on fishing and not very fertile pastures for sheep, and if they took away the fact that it was the ancestral home of the dragon house, it would be nothing more than a desolate island. But to Vaegon, its importance was vital, as its volcanic climate would be perfect for removing the decay of dragons. He had seen Meleys, and the dragon was powerful, but both she and Caraxes showed the effects of the dragonpit.
"Before the end of this year I will move the dragons to this island," Vaegon said, as Vhagar accompanied him. The dragon was happier, because that island was where he was born, and despite his wayward character, it was noticeable that he had a better mood. And they crossed the skies surrounding the island several times. It truly was a magnificent sight that no video game could ever match. And soon Vaegon's mood improved as well.
Then they decided to stop at the stony feet of Montedragon, where they landed, and leaning on a Vhagar lying down, Vaegon took from his bag half a cheese, bread of the day and a canteen of cider. And they both had a good time, enjoying the last year of summer. Then would come two years of moderate winter. But he was really pleased with the view.
"Vhagar, I truly understand why you love this island so much," Vaegon said to the dragon, who grunted with something resembling glee.
"Who are you?" asked a powerful voice that resounded loudly in his head.
Vaegon scrambled to his feet, and Vhagar rose with fire already in his mouth. A deep murderous rage could be felt from the dragon, who sensed a terrifying presence, and roared with all his might in a deafening fashion, forcing Vaegon to cover his ears lest they burst his eardrums.
"Who's there?!" Vaegon inquired in shock. "Show yourself right now!" demanded the king.
"As you wish" the shrill voice said, to which Vhagar roared again with equal ferocity.
Then the sky darkened, and a colossal figure arose from Dragonmont, landing in front of them both. And Vaegon stared in wonder and a little fear, at a gigantic dragon, bigger than a Boeing 747. Its scaly skin was coal black, harder than steel, on its head was a deep scar made long ago. long ago by a mighty beast. But his eyes and his enormous ones shone with emerald light, but without any trace of benevolence. On his head were sharp horns and his teeth were as long as spears, revealing a mouth that could easily fit two mammoths. This being was at least a fifth larger than the black terror, but unlike the other dragons it had four stout legs instead of two, and its wings were scaly, long, and sharp instead of leather. And there was no doubt that that dragon was the Cannibal.
"How can you talk?" Vaegon asked, impressed to see that monstrous dragon, born from a nightmare.
"I am not a lesser dragon, I am Daekarys the last dragon of the house of Aurion. The dragons of each house each had different attributes" Daekarys replied "Now answer my question, for your heart beats, but you smell of death" the dragon demanded.
"I am Vaegon Targaryen, king of Westeros..." he replied with some nervousness.
But the dragon stamped loudly with one foreleg, digging a hole eight feet deep. Vhagar looked ready to pounce on that dragon, but Vaegon stepped forward, his gaze crystal clear.
"Sincerity must be paid with sincerity," Daekarys croaked, his voice as hard as steel.
"I am someone who died in another world, and reincarnated in this one... I was brought to prevent the death of dragons" Vaegon confessed.
Daekarys stared at him.
"And how do you plan to save the dragons?" asked the hideous dragon.
"Because of the mistakes of the Targaryen house, the dragons are getting smaller and weaker. Dragons are not like cows, they cannot be kept under a roof, nor can they be chained. They need freedom and food to preserve their greatness" Vaegon spoke "If I don't do this in just half a century the dragons will have disappeared from the face of this world...all except you...probably"
Daekarys seemed to lie down on the ground, and stared at Vaegon. It seemed that the dragon was pondering over the information, and he was not happy with what he said. And after a few moments he finally spoke in Vaegon's head.
"What you say disturbs me. I don't like your house, but I didn't escape the horror of Doom to see my family perish in this strange land in such a humiliating way" the dragon replied sourly "But I feel that you are not entirely honest with me, and I need a proof"
Vaegon narrowed his eyes.
"A test for what?" I ask, wary of the fearsome dragon.
"My flame cannot burn what is not of this world" the dragon replied "If what you say is really true, can I spray you with my flame without suffering any harm?"
"What do you want?" Vaegon asked as he feared the worst and Vhagar roared again at the other dragon with all his might.
"I propose something...human" the dragon said with interest "If I surround you with my flame and you survive, I will let you become my lord and I will give you the sword of the gallant Aurion"
Vaegon was actually stumped by that proposition, and his head seemed to spin, until at last he snapped back to reality.
"And if I refuse?" Vaegon asked, fearing the worst.
"I will consider that you are a liar and I will devour both you and your dragon" Daekarys replied without admitting any retort.
Vaegon swallowed. That dragon was much bigger than Vhagar, and he would dare to say that it was much more powerful and faster, since it was nothing like any other dragon. In fact, he was sure that if dragons were people, Vhagar would be something like Rhaenys, and the cannibal a more dangerous and intelligent version of The Mountain. And seeing that there really was no other choice, he took off his maester's robe, leaving only a woolen shirt.
"Drakarys," Vaegon said, taking a couple of steps towards the dragon.
Daekarys smiled with malevolent curiosity and engulfed Vaegon in his blaze as blue as night, but fiery enough to melt gold, precious stones, and any mortal. Vhagar took a step back, for Daekarys's flame, though barely focused on Vaegon, ripped a great gouge in the ground, one hundred feet deep, and five hundred feet wide.
Vaegon closed his eyes, and even covered them from the blinding light, for a while he was waiting for the dragon to launch his flame, but he only felt the cold wind run through his scrawny torso. But then when he opened his eyes he found himself in a great gap consumed by fire, fortunately it was wide enough that Vaegon himself could climb it on foot though with some difficulty. But when he noticed his boots, he only saw his bare feet covered with some ash.
But he soon arrived before the surprised dragon, even though they both couldn't fully believe what had just happened. Daekarys himself watched in some astonishment as Vaegon's frail figure halted a few yards from him.
Then the dragon lowered his huge head until it touched the ground, as a sign of respect to Vaegon.
"My word is law, from now on you are my new lord" Daekarys ruled with a solemn voice "The sword of my former lord Aurion is nailed to my back between my scales, take it because now it is yours" said the dragon, who at Seeing the impossibility of Vaegon being able to climb his gigantic figure, he offered him the palm of his paw, and with some abruptness he raised him towards his loins.
Vaegon stepped forward carefully, but he still ended up cutting himself several times, for the dragon's scales were sharper than the iron throne. So he measured each step, and with a lot of pain, he arrived after a few minutes until near the neck of the dragon, and there he saw the sword of Aurion, among more scales of four feet each. And with all his strength he drew the sword from the dragon's back, dripping a few drops of black blood from it.
Daekarys heaved a sigh of relief and lowered Vaegon back to the ground.
"Deep down I am grateful that you have survived my fire, I had been embedded with it for two centuries, since I escaped from Valyria" Daekarys told him.
"You were the dragon of Aurion?" he asked almost in disbelief "You must be the only living being that saw the glory of Valyria"
"Yes, and also the only one who escaped from that hell of monsters and lava, while he tried to save my lord Aurion, after seeing his army perish. But he met his death when we reached Mantarys. So I started wandering until I got to this island because the volcano does a lot of good for dragons. But my presence was not welcomed by Aenar Targaryen, who wanted to tame me, which is why I hid in a cave, after killing two of his five dragons in single combat" Daekarys replied. "Since then I have been stalking the Taragryen in the shadows seeking revenge, and feeding me based on their dragons, because I also devoured another dragon as revenge"
"I understand," Vaegon said. "But now you serve me... I must be the first Targaryen to control two dragons at once."
Then the dragon nodded reluctantly. He didn't really like Vhagar, but Daekarys was forced to fly with that lesser dragon, and although there was some friction, they could manage to bear it the next day, as long as they weren't together too long.
Vaegon returned to the fortress at dawn the next day, riding Vhagar, keeping Daekarys a secret for now. So after eating hot soup and some cheese, he went to his chambers, and barely left the fortress, until the sea-serpent and his ships arrived at Dragonstone.
"Now it only remains to receive Daemon" Vaegon said quite pleased, seeing his hosts disembark on the island.