Chapter 5
Weeks passed as Harry prepared what he believed would allow him entry into Valyria and the Smoking Sea without suffering the fate others encountered when trying to plunder the destroyed empire. From the description of witness accounts, would-be plunderers could not even reach the ruins without their ships disappearing entirely beneath the ocean. The air around Valyria smelled of brimstone and sulfur which meant it was probably incredibly toxic. More than enough to kill anyone who ventured in deep enough for sure. Aemond had voiced his concerns over the danger and also the King's decree which forbid visit to Valyria under the punishment of death. Harry reassured him that his father wouldn't have him executed and he would be there to watch them both.
The accounts of Septon Barth on the Aerea Targaryen incident greatly troubled him though. This was a huge unknown that he wasn't sure was worth the risk in his current state. Her injuries were definitely magical in nature and monstrous to boot. Worms with faces and snakes with hands, that were parasitic in nature. Even the behemoth, Balerion the Black Dread, was injured by whatever inhabited Valyria now. The belief that Valryia is merely scorching ruins with no life was a ridiculous notion.
The current plan was to visit the outskirts and maybe even land on Valyria's shore to check some of the ruins nearest to it. He didn't want to risk provoking anything overly aggressive and powerful while he was weak. Whatever could survive the doom and the fallout was sure to be something fearsome. A particular trinket he was carrying would help with this and make the journey interesting. Well two but the other one couldn't really be merely called a trinket. The history of the hallows would disprove any attempts at trying to understate its value.
"Raaah!" Aemond finished striking the moving puppet into the ground and fell to the ground in exhaustion. He removed his helmet and took deep breaths as he got back up.
"Good job, Aemond. I believe we are finally ready for Valyria. I can't have you being a burden to me if something does happen." Harry had gone through great lengths to prepare Aemond and Vhagar. The suit that Aemond now wore would help him traverse the dangerous environment. The armor was charmed to be weightless and durable to the point of being unbreakable. Stringing Aemond along wasn't just to pay him back with the promised lessons but also to help him fight anything that could be potentially lurking within the ruins. An enormous dragon was an enormous dragon after all.
"As if, it will be me doing the saving. With these upgrades, no one stands a chance." Aemond was excited to try out his new suit and eye in combat. Harry had taught him a few tricks with the eye and instructed him to keep an eye out for anything magical in the ruins. He held a disturbing suspicion that Harry wasn't referring to a magical artifact or treasure.
Vhagar was a dragon, a magical creature naturally attuned to fire, she would not require any special protections to help her survive. Harry was sure that if Balerion could survive through it then Vhagar could as well. Especially with him here to watch over them and help them with anything that may come up.
"Did you speak to your uncle about your departure?" Harry asks Aemond while he rummages through his bag. At this Aemond grows quiet and nervous while looking out of the window.
"I did but I didn't say where I was going. He wasn't pleased and also said he would let my mother know. I wasn't told to stay in Oldtown though so I think I'm good. Either way, you can just magic away any problems right?" Aemond looks hopefully up to Harry.
"That's the spirit. You are a prince, it's time you started to really use the privileges you have. The world is too vast and mysterious for someone to decide they prefer life in a dark keep. Someone has to fill the history books or else the maesters will go crazy reading the same stuff over and over." Harry chuckles as he ruffles Aemond's hair.
"If Vhagar is coming along then how will we be doing this? Are you going to use Fawkes? Did you want to meet up somewhere outside the Smoking Sea?" Aemond was excited at the thought of finally getting to properly have some miles on his dragon. This was the stuff he always fantasized about before he eventually tamed Vhagar. His family wasn't here to tell him what he could or couldn't do so he would gladly take this opportunity to do as he wanted.
"Fawkes is currently still throwing a tantrum so I'll be choosing a different way. Here grab your stuff and let's go." Aemond put his helmet on and grabbed his bag before he felt the familiar pull of the apparition. They appeared on a coast a few miles from Oldtown with the sun blazing above them.
"This is how we will do it. Aemond, I am about to place a large amount of trust on you but I'm sure you can do it. I have taught you how to use the eye and I have amplified your body's physical prowess for what comes ahead. I won't lie, I am also wary of the possible dangers that this journey holds. I'm sure you've heard of the legends of your cousin, Aerea Targaryen. Besides her, we are treading uncharted waters and lands as no one has ever been able to explore the area after the doom. The rituals I used on you have enhanced your strength, speed, and reflexes. The downside is that you are still only 12 years old but you should currently stand just above the physical capabilities of a full grown adult." Harry explained as he pulled out an old but clear glass bottle.
Aemond looked down at his hands and couldn't deny what he heard. The training had gone amazingly and he felt as if he could actually defeat both Sir Criston Cole and Daemon Targaryen in a duel. For real this time but he wasn't sure as both were not simple men but legends in their own right.
"Your dragon is nearby, call for it." Aemond looked at Harry weirdly. Harry only looked expectantly at him.
"I can't. Even if I yelled at the top of my lungs, Vhagar won't hear me." Aemond then remembered the rituals and figured that his body as a WHOLE was enhanced. He searched within himself for the bond he shared with Vhagar and didn't have to look very far like before.
He tugged on it and felt Vhagar prodding back in a confused manner. He pushed his desire for Vhagar to come to him and felt an understanding response before it went quiet. Both Harry and Aemond stood staring at the sky for a few minutes before the roar of a dragon was heard in the distance. The enormous dragon soon appeared and landed in a careful manner so as to not crush her rider. Harry got the idea that she couldn't give a damn about him though as he was ignored. Vhagar crept closer and sniffed Aemond before growling in approval as she then turned her sights to Harry.
"Tell me Vhagar, do you like seafood? Whale or Fish?" Vhagar looked puzzled at the question before she turned to look at her rider who was also confused.
'Accio Whale' Harry wordlessly cast the spell as he pointed it out towards the sea. The power of the elder wand came in handy as he felt the rapid approach of a lifeform coming from the cold waters of the sea. Soon a whale broke through the waves as it flew above them and landed in front of Vhagar. The whale struggled as it wiggled back and forth confusingly. Vhagar looked at the appropriately sized meal with hunger as she had been called before the dragonkeepers brought her the next scheduled meal.
"Here let her eat the whale in peace. We have to prepare the ship we will be departing in." Aemond stared at the messy sight of Vhagar tearing into the sea animal.
"What ship? Are you going to pull a nearby ship too?" Aemond had spent too much time around Harry to know that the weirdest idea was usually the correct one.
"No, what do you take me for? A pirate?" Harry grabbed the bottle with the ship inside and uncorked the bottle. He descended above the waters before letting the bottle flow out into the sea. The ship moved out of the bottle and slowly grew in size before settling into its massive Man-O-War form.
"How would this even work? A ship of this size in a wine bottle. How did you get it in there? Wait, don't answer that. Magic, I know." Aemond answered quickly as he saw Harry's signature annoying smile.
Harry grabbed Aemond and took them both aboard the ship. He stomped on the ground and inspected the ship for any signs of wear and finally decided it was sail-worthy. This ship had cost him many galleons back when he first found the store in Magical Spain. Thankfully his status as the Boy-Who-Lived allowed him to skip the bureaucratic waiting list for magical vessels. The downpayment for this baby was almost the cost of a manor but it was well worth it. This was no ordinary vessel if he recalled correctly. Fleur was certainly impressed by it when he first showed it to her.
Arriving to pick up your date with apparition, lame. Arriving with a Magical Spanish Man-O-War, now that left an impression.
"This would require a massive crew to sail the ship, are you planning on recruiting some from Oldtown?" Harry interrupted him by pulling out the deathly hallow known as the Resurrection stone. Harry had obtained all of them over the course of the war with his last acquisition being the Elder Wand. He had experimented with the stone enough to know that it didn't actually resurrect the dead nor did he actually believe the summoned spirits were actually truly here with him again.
"The Master of Death commands you to serve. Drowned or slain, heed my call." The water around them glowed with a mysterious green light before the forms of men dressed in sailor clothing began climbing up the side of the ship. Some of them wore the sigil of House Hightower on their clothes as Aemond observed the spectacle unfolding before him. Just when he thought he had seen everything there was about magic.
"Master."
"Captain."
"That's a bloody dragon!"
"Boy, are you truly a member of House Hightower, but your white hair…" Aemond had forgotten that he was wearing a Hightower sigil on the front of his armor.
"That's enough, I didn't summon all of you for mere small talk. Take your position according to the rank you once held." Truth be told, Harry could direct the ship without them but that would get quite lonely especially with what he had planned. And it wouldn't be nearly as fun. If he could once again provide some enjoyment for those who died at sea then all the more good. Harry motioned Aemond towards him as he started to make his way down the stairs near the Captain's quarters.
Downstairs, Aemond found that the room had been magically expanded to an absurd size which wasn't reflected on the outside. He had seen this before when Harry had expanded a cave by the coast where he had taken up residence after needing a place to perform the rituals on him.
"Like I was saying, I am about to place a large amount of trust in you. How good are your diplomatic or charisma skills? I'm sure you've been taught something as befitting a prince of the realm." Harry began waving his wand around and further accommodating the room for a magical creature.
"I can do well enough, what did you have in mind?" Aemond didn't think he needed diplomatic skills to visit the ruins of Valyria. The Dragonlords of old were long gone and so was anyone who stuck around for the doom.
Harry pulled out the piece of paper containing the information regarding the magister and the grass. He also pulled out a pouch of gold and handed them both to Aemond.
"I want to knock two birds out with one stone. We will ride together all the way until we get closer to the Smoking Sea and Volantis. I want you to meet with the magister and obtain some grass from him. You will be on your own but I believe that my lessons and Vhagar will be enough to help you overcome any possible difficulties you might encounter while there." Harry grabbed Aemond's shoulder while looking proudly at him.
"I understand, I won't disappoint you. After everything you've done for me, consider this done. That magister will hand over that grass or I will burn his entire keep to the ground." Aemond kneeled and swore with his hand over his chest.
"Aemond, what did we talk about? Start with the diplomatic route first and then threaten him with fire and blood. Only then can you finally raze the place after getting the grass if he doesn't listen to reason." Aemond nodded in agreement. Harry took a moment to appreciate the fine student he had fortunately found. Truth be told, he was probably a terrible influence on the kid as he himself was scarred by war and being raised by a recluse didn't help.
The ship suddenly rocked side to side as they heard shouts and screams coming from above. A head suddenly squeezed through the entrance revealing Vhagar's bloody face. Seeing the expanded room confused Vhagar as she didn't recall the ship being this size. Despite this, she finished squeezing through the entrance without somehow destroying the ship in the process.
"Vhagar no!" Harry stopped Aemond from halting the dragon.
"It's alright Aemond. How else did you think she would come with us? Follow us from the sky? She also needs her rest for the coming journey. Isn't that right, Vhagar?" Vhagar roared in agreement while finding comfort in the center of the room.
"Let Vhagar settle in, come along Aemond. You will be the ship's First Mate so you'll be in charge of directing the men at arms." Aemond had never done this before but looked forward to leading the ghosts of dead sea men.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Aemond observed the map while standing next to Harry who was at the wheel of the ship. He was feeling troubled as he looked off into the distance where gray clouds rapidly approached them. They had long left Westeros after passing Sunspear on their way through the Summer Sea. The magical Man-O-War proved to be faster than any ship Aemond had previously been on. They were practically tearing through the ocean after they had passed Sunspear safely. Aemond felt the ship actually fly into the air for several moments after Harry picked the speed up.
"Harry, the Summer Sea has some pretty devastating storms which have been known to sink entire fleets. Many Hightowers have lost their lives on voyages through these parts of the sea. Are you sure we can't just ask Fawkes for a favor?" Harry didn't appear troubled, in fact, he seemed excited at the thought of going through it.
"Don't worry about the storm. You are vastly underestimating this ship. Who needs a stupid bird when you have a magical ship." Harry answered.
The size of the waves in the distance didn't reassure Aemond. Even now, the boat rocked violently when the ship entered within the range of the violent winds caused by the storm.
"Prince Aemond, massive waterspouts to the east!" Aemond heard the shout of the lookout and turned to the east to find water tornadoes forming in the distance. Aemond finally understood why some lords found the comfort of their keeps more appealing than adventures.
"Don't worry, Aemond. I will pick up the speed of the ship in a second. It can go way faster but I just wanted to get acclimated to the controls. Lys is just north of here so get ready to fly off. I want you to fly to Lys and then take off towards Volantis. I would have liked to get closer to the Smoking Sea before letting you go directly to Volantis but there aren't any islands where Vhagar can rest." Aemond nervously fidgeted with the map at the thought of flying solo into foreign lands. The exploits of his Uncle, Daemon Targaryen, weren't unknown to him. The triarchy was the enemy of all Targaryens and he knew they held some influence within Volantis.
"This is why I have taught you much in these past few weeks, Aemond. Have a bit more faith in yourself. The triarchy does indeed have friends in Volantis but you have something they don't. A dragon and my teachings, so just head straight to where the magister is located and obtain the grass. You won't need directions while there, I have charmed the paper to direct you to the place described by the paper. Keep your head on a swivel and take this just to be sure." Harry handed Aemond a nightgown cap.
"You can count on me, teacher. But what is this nightgown cap for?" Aemond held onto the cap with confusion.
"If you find yourself in the worst of situations, and I mean the worst of the worst. Hold onto this nightgown and say the words, 'Nargle Infestation'." This will take you back to the cave where we held the rituals. From there, there will be a stash of food and potions that will nurse you back to health depending on your condition. This portkey can only be used once so judge your situation wisely." Harry patted Aemond encouragingly.
"When this is done, I will treat you to a meal somewhere good. We'll find something, maybe Lys or the Summer Isles. I hear they are great this time of year." Aemond gained some confidence with Harry's words and also the not so simple cap in his hands.
"Just watch, I'll be back with the grass and some. I'll probably have to rescue you when I get back so don't go dying on me." Harry laughed as Aemond made his way down into the depths of the ship for Vhagar.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Aemond was soaked to the bone as he flew through the third and hopefully final storm after leaving Lys behind. He had departed from the ship several hours ago if the moon in the sky was anything to go by. The moon and clear sky were a blessing as it would have been pitch black without it. He couldn't see the ocean underneath him but he could hear the waves crashing amongst themselves even from the height he was at.
Lys was not very welcoming and Aemond actually felt that he was going to have to use his newly acquired skills so soon into the trip. As soon as he landed he was approached by an army of Lysene soldiers who interrogated him with a bastardized version of Valyrian. He understood nonetheless and asked for a change of clothes and some time to rest before he took off again. The soldiers relayed back the request to the city before he was offered a change of clothes and an invitation to some magister's manor but Aemond declined the invitation.
The history between Dragonriders and the Lysene wasn't a mystery especially one young as him. This place was crawling with just as many snakes as the court in Kingslanding. He was sure he would probably meet a quiet death by poison or something similar. He wasn't spending any more time here than he had to and nothing would entice him to visit the city. Not the food, women, or promise of patronage and protection while in the city. His teacher needed the grass urgently and he wasn't going to waste time on entertaining strangers while Harry could be in grave danger. They were ready to go after a couple hours and take off they did.
The change of clothes proved useless as that wasn't the last storm he faced on his way to the Orange Shore. Aemond wanted to find a place to rest before entering any Volantenes land but he would have to make do with the little rest he got on Lys. Maybe he could find a spot far from any settlement and set up a shelter so he could sleep for an hour or two before the sun came up.
In the distance Aemond finally spotted land and he let out a whoop of joy. Volantis was just a couple hours east and then he would make his way into the Smoking Sea. Aemond felt wary of entering the known death zone but he was beginning to trust Harry's work. If there was anyone that knew anything about doing the impossible then it was his teacher. The thought of entering the ruins gave him a big confidence boost as what was Volantis compared to the perils of Valyria.
With this mind, Aemond pushed onwards to the coast looking for a safe place to land. Just before he landed Aemond could see a sizable fleet making its way along the shore towards the direction of Volantis. Quickly pulling his Myrish Eye out of the pouch, he took a look towards the ships and found the familiar sigil of the Three Daughters illuminated by the ship's lanterns.
Aemond wasn't close enough for them to spot him but knowing that he would have to definitely face them soon was a sobering thought. He was hoping that Volantis had truly stayed out of the dealings of the Three Daughters. Rest was now essential as he needed to be at his best for the trouble brewing in the city. Aemond had never really taken the time to consider his own mortality, especially since he was a prince but now he found himself wondering if he would live through this whole ordeal. Stopping those thoughts before they could overwhelm him, Aemond gripped the reins tightly and directed Vhagar downwards.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Harry wondered whether Aemond would take a break in Lys and enjoy his time there. He didn't think he would need his help finding the purple fruit but it would have eased his mind to have an extra hand here. He was approaching the first of the islands and everything seemed to be going well.
"My Lord father had instructed me to sail to Essos for trade dealings but I was unfortunate enough to run into pirates along the way. My fleet was destroyed and I was left no choice but to flee back to Oldtown. I almost made it home but my ship was too damaged and it sunk a few miles from Oldtown. My body gave out before I could reach land and all I can remember is my slow descent into the cold depths of the ocean." The Hightower ghost along with the others, relegated stories of their time while alive and the moment of their deaths. In turn, Harry filled in the ghosts on the current ongoings of Westeros. The Hightower ghost was very pleased to know that his house had been granted a royal marriage and that the King's firstborn son was a Hightower.
"It warms my cold dead heart to know that my family is doing well. My father must have been devastated to learn about my demise but the house is in good hands if my eyes don't deceive me. That was the legendary Vhagar, Queen Visenya's dragon, that the young prince was riding! House Hightower has surely never been stronger than it is now. It is not my place to comment on the prince choosing to learn sorcery so I will keep my silence. Thank you for letting me come back to see this, Sorcerer. I can now comfortably rest in peace." The Hightower ghost bowed in gratitude. Harry waved him off and a comfortable silence fell upon them as they sailed smoothly towards their destination.
"Captain, I spot several moving figures but there is something wrong!... they are ships just sailing aimlessly." Harry ran to the opposite end of the ship and took a peek through his looking glass. 'Should've probably given one to Aemond. Oh well.' There was not only life in the ruins for certain but also in the sea. 'Those ships had holes in the upper decks meaning they were attacked by some sort of sea monster, maybe a sea dragon. The wood was decayed which was to be expected but there were also signs of some form of acidic attack.'
In response to his thoughts, the ship was hit in the side by something large causing the entire boat to shake. The Man-O-War had many special protections which were holding up to the abuse dished out by the toxic sea and it's not so kind inhabitants.
'Bombarda' Harry whipped around and fired a spell towards the snake-like monster making its way onto the deck. The torso slid back into the waters as its head was disintegrated by the blast. Multiple massive decaying sea dragons made their presence known as their bodies came up out of the water. Although they were dead, this didn't stop the ghostly crew from screaming in terror at the abominations before them. One of the sea dragons attempted to take a bite out of the crew but found that he went right through them. His head couldn't even pierce through the wood of the ship.
"Sea Dragons!" The lookout screamed out from above. The ghostly crew began running up and down the deck before remembering they were long dead. This left many of them feeling confused about the situation before deciding to spectate the captain's fight with the creatures of legend.
'Sectumsempra' Harry wasn't about to stand by and watch them try to eat his crew. The wails of the dragons lasted a few moments before their bodies became chunks of meat sinking back into the water. Harry took deep breaths as he tried to sense any other curious sea monsters. Plenty of sea monsters seemed to find the commotion interesting if what he was feeling was correct. Out of the ships in the distance, sea monsters slithered out and made their way to him. They could likely smell and taste the blood of the fresh kills.
'Seems like I will need your help after all, Aemond. Hopefully, he's keeping his mind on the grass and not on Lysene women.' The night was filled with monstrous growls and a light show of spells as Harry began his defense of the ship. The additional booms of the cannons firing rows of cannon balls into the incoming beasts joined the fray. The ship held too many memories for him to abandon.
