Hello, readers.
Here, we will be focusing on Areon for a bit, so let's get to it.
Enjoy.
The sun was setting as the night began to claim the day in the city of Qarth as Areon and Jorah were sparring together in the courtyard of Xaro Xhoan Daxos's palace. Areon requested the old knight to train him, and Jorah was more than willing to do so.
Jorah swung his sword only for Areon to block it with his own, provided by Lord Xaro, and ducked to the ground, slid to behind the older knight, and then raised himself to point his sword at his neck.
Jorah, panting, saw he was beaten, although he had been going easy on the young Targaryen, "Good swordplay, Your Grace. You learn better by the day."
Panting himself, Areon says, "It seems I have a good teacher."
Jorah chuckled as the lesson was over. They both go to a nearby table where some water is waiting for them. "Any word from our supposed friend?"
Areon drinks his water, knowing Jorah was speaking about Jerika Longwaters. "Well, she can't exactly speak with me out in the open. Considering the circumstances."
Jorah nods, "You had much time to think about her. And the offers House Longwaters is supposedly offering."
Areon remains quiet about it. They had been staying in Qarth for almost a month now. Taking most of their time to rest and recover from their ordeal from the Red Waste. Although Areon tries to avoid any talk about Westeros. Daenerys kept trying to talk about taking the opportunity to take the Iron Throne, Xaro and others in Qarth had tried to gain an audience with him because of the dragons, but he dodged them at every turn. Jorah tries to get him to open up but to no avail.
Without saying a word, Areon leaves the courtyard to go back inside when he sees that the sun is almost gone to get ready for bed, leaving Jorah behind with his thoughts.
The older knight can see the young Targaryen is lost, unsure if he wants to be king. Jorah does believe that Areon can be a good king. He has a kind heart and a strong will and is fiercely protective, but Areon might not see it. But he has sworn his sword and shield to the Targaryens, and he will support him the best he can.
0000000000
Areon walks into his room, takes a deep breath after his training, and goes to sit on the couch to take off his boots, getting ready for bed. It has been weeks since they arrived in Qarth and he is taking every opportunity to rest, for himself, Dany, and their people. He walks over to the dragon cages and sees that Rhaegal is sound asleep, but Drogon is wide awake. The young dragon, who has grown to the size of an adult cat, is screeching toward Areon, wanting to get out. Areon smiles and brings the dragon out of its cage. At first, he thinks Drogon is hungry, but then he realizes that the dragon simply wants to be close to him. Areon allows Drogon to stay in his arms, and the dragon starts to purr.
Areon heads out to the balcony of his room to take in some fresh air. He sits on the floor, leaning against the balcony wall while he pets his dragon, which is slowly falling asleep. As he relaxes, he can't help but ponder the warnings he's received from Quaithe. She warns him that his dragons are coveted by many because they are fire-made flesh and possess great power. To ensure their safety, Areon has placed them under heavy guard. However, nothing has happened so far, and he decides to take this moment to unwind and slowly drift off to sleep.
Once he is deep in sleep, Areon finds himself in the same building he has been dreaming about for the past few nights. Almost every dream was the same. Long and low, without towers or windows, coiled like a stone serpent through a grove of black-barked trees the leaves, and black tiles cover the palace's roof, many of them fallen or broken, and the mortar between its stones is dry and crumbling. The palace's door is a tall oval mouth set in a wall fashioned in the likeness of a human face.
However, this time he had Drogon on his shoulder, screeching aloud at the building. He was walking up the steps, having this sense of wanting to go in. Before walking up to the door, he hears a rustling sound, causing him to turn back, seeing the woman in the red mask, who he now sees, looks like Quaithe. She points to the building, whispering, "The shade of the evening allows one to hear and see the truth in the House of the Undying." Areon looks back to the building, seeing a slender crystal glass of thick blue liquid in it. Areon goes up to the glass to smell it. It was a horrible odor as if it was spoilt meat or rotten flesh.
Once he turns back to Quaithe, he sees she is gone. Suddenly, the doors open, causing Areon to look back, then see the glass he was holding was empty. He then smelled the same odor coming from his face, making him wipe his mouth, seeing there was the same blue liquid on his lips. Then he felt some sort of pull that was taking him to the building until he was inside where everything was black.
Then, Areon woke up, seeing he was back in his room, leaning on the balcony where he drifted off to sleep. Seeing the sunlight getting brighter, Areon realizes it is morning. He looks down to see Drogon sleeping in his grasp. Remembering he has breakfast with Dany, he rises from the floor to get ready for the day. Once dressed, he goes to the cage to bring Rhaegal out, but when he tries, the green dragon snaps at him, hissing and screeching somewhat threatening. Not wanting to deal with it, Areon simply grabs the young dragon despite its screeching.
0000000000
After getting dressed, Areon, with Drogon perched on his shoulder and an unhappy Rhaegal in his hand, walks into a private solar where his sister, Daenerys is sitting with Viserion, waiting to start their breakfast.
"Took you long enough," Dany jests.
Areon chuckles before sitting down, "Drogon and Rhaegal needed to be fed."
"Ah," Dany says as Drogon and Rhaegal go to the table, screeching a bit with Viserion before going to the food. "Seems Rhaegal wasn't cooperating."
"No, he has a bit of a temper. And Viserion?" Areon asked, but not looking at the gold dragon.
"He's well behaved," Dany smiles at the gold and cream dragon, "He does nothing but cuddle towards me and is a delight to Doreah and Irri."
"Oh," Areon raises a brow, "Considering whom he's named after, that's surprising."
Dany looks to Areon, noticing that he's been a bit distant from Viserion compared to the other dragons. Viserion tries to get close to his brothers and so-called father. Drogon and Rhaegal seemed a bit aggressive towards him, causing him to go back to Dany.
"I guess he's a bit too calm for them," Dany noted.
Areon shrugs, "They're young. They'll grow out of it."
"Hm," Dany hums, deciding to change the subject, "Anyways, Doreah has been very informative on her time with our host."
Areon hums. Since coming to Qarth, Dany, Irri, and Doreah seemed to craft some sort of sordid plan to have Doreah go to bed with Xaro to get information out of him since "men like to talk when they're happy". Something Doreah told Dany about. Areon wouldn't hear of it as he did not want to whore Doreah that way, but it seemed they went along with it despite his misgiving.
Seeing Areon's discomfort, Dany asked, "Don't you want to hear?"
"Not really, no," Areon said harshly.
Dany was surprised by his tone, "Are you upset by this?"
"Forgive me if I see harm in whoring out your handmaiden for our benefit," Areon retorted.
"It's just to keep an eye on Xaro," Dany reasons.
Areon leans into her, "We are also giving Doreah away like a prize to him just to find out information. I mean she was a bed slave since she was nine, I don't see how we could do this to her."
"She seems fine with it," Dany argues.
"Fine with it," Areon rolls his eyes.
"I just thought it might be a good way to make sure he is genuine and sincere with Jerika Longwaters in making you king."
"I wish people would stop calling me that," Areon suddenly said with frustration, causing Dany to give him a surprised look. Seeing how he acted, Areon buries his face in his hands, quickly apologizing, "Sorry. It's just… I'm no king."
"You are," Dany encourages.
"King of what," Areon asked, "The Seven Kingdoms? They probably don't even know if we are alive or dead."
"But when they see you at Westeros, they'd," Dany tries again.
Areon cuts her off, "They'd what? Raise Targaryen banners and shout my name in the streets. Raise their swords and fight for me. That's exactly what Viserys thought."
"But you're not Viserys," Dany tells him.
"And that doesn't mean I want to be king," Areon ended the conversation as he leaned back to his seat, drinking his cup as Dany sighed, seeing she couldn't get through to him. Deciding not to press it any further, she goes back to her breakfast while petting Viserion who was purring to her touch.
0000000000
After the tense breakfast, Areon places his dragons back in his room and goes around the palace until he gets to Lord Xaro's gardens, sitting on one of the benches. It was the only place where he could get peace, away from everything. Until a sudden voice was heard.
"Enjoying the gardens," Areon turns to see it was Xaro Xhoan Daxos.
Areon sighs, "I am. It's so peaceful here."
"More peaceful than outside the city, I presume," Xaro guesses.
Areon scoffs, "Very."
"I understand," Xaro sat next to him, "There were times when I wished to run from people I do business with. Though I'd imagine you would know since many people wish to speak with you."
Aeron sighs since it is true. For weeks since coming to Qarth, people have been wishing to speak to him, gain an audience with him, giving him favors. It even got to a point where the Pureborn, the noble ruler who governs the whole city, wishes to speak with him. He tried to see them all, but eventually, it got too much for him, and needed a break. He thought they would just use him until they lost interest like the other times when he, Dany, and Viserys were wandering around the Free Cities, but since he has dragons, he feels it will not be the same as before.
"There is still one who wishes to speak with you," Xaro interrupts his thoughts.
"Lady Jerika," Areon asked, still remembering his last conversation with her, "I haven't seen her since our last conversation. Which is odd."
"Yes, but considering her ties to King's Landing and the family who rules it, one must be careful," Xaro explains.
Areon hums, understanding that her family must be careful considering everything that is happening at Westeros. At the moment, the whole country is at war within itself with the Starks and the Lannisters fighting each other because Joffrey Baratheon is an incestuous bastard of Cersei and her twin brother, the Kingslayer. Not to mention the Longwaters interacting with him would be considered treason.
"You think I should speak with her," Areon asked.
"Her family is offering what many won't," Xaro insists.
Areon looks at him questionably. Why is Xaro so close to Jerika Longwaters? From what he heard about her, she's a sister to Jonathor Longwaters and is married to Marenno Hotahran, a wealthy merchant in the city, and has three sons and a daughter. Xaro has no ties with them, so why is he working with them? "What do you want?"
Xaro raises a brow, "Why do you ask that?"
"I've been to many people in the Free Cities trying to get something out of me and my family name until they lose interest," Areon explains, "So the only way you have this much interest in me is that you want something. Is it the dragons? You want to use them for war if I decide to go to Westeros?"
"War is far from my desire," Xaro gently says, "War is bad for trade, and I am a man of peace."
"Really," Areon asked, not believing him, "The Longwaters seemed to want war against Joffrey Baratheon."
"War was coming no matter what," Xaro counters, "We simply wish to use it to our advantage if we can."
"How can that be," Areon asked, "You just said you are a man of peace."
"Yes, but I am also a man of ambition. Look around you," Xaro gestures around his home, "Where do you think I got all this? I came from nothing. I hit the docks like a piece of cargo except someone normally cares what happens to cargo. When I came to this city, I had nothing. Truly nothing. I slept by the docks and when I could find work loading the ships, I would eat. If not, I dreamed of food. And yet, today, I am the richest man in Qarth. Do you think the path from poverty to wealth is always pure and honorable? I have done many things, Your Grace, that a righteous man would condemn. And here I am, with no regrets. Some would say the same of your ancestor, Aegon the Conqueror."
"What of him," Areon asked, listening intently.
"He was living on Dragonstone for his whole life. Content where he was? No, he wanted more," Xaro says.
Areon furrows his brows, "How can you know that?"
"Why else would he do it," Xaro questions, "Only him, his sisters, their dragons, and a small army. Why would he take that kind of risk of conquering an entire continent when he could've lived happily in his home?"
Areon thought about it for a moment. Why has Aegon conquered the Seven Kingdoms? It was a question that many would ask. Was it ambition alone? Was it to restore the blood of Valyria after the Doom? Or maybe it was because, "Because he could?"
"Yes," Xaro nods with a smile, "Because he could? So, why not the same for you? Why not conquer the Seven Kingdoms now that you can?"
Areon thinks about what he is hearing. Before it was a challenge to think about taking back the Iron Throne and Westeros, but now that he has dragons, three dragons like Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys had, it now seems somewhat possible. He can't lie, he has thought about taking the Iron Throne and the Red Keep out of personal feelings for his family. Could that be enough for becoming king?
Perhaps he should speak with Jerika, but the person who was on his mind the most was Quaithe. She was in his dreams again telling him to go to the House of the Undying. From their last talk, she knows about his dreams, so he was hoping she might have the answers.
"What do you know about Quaithe," Areon asks Xaro.
Xaro raises a brow, "The Shadowbinder. People like her are considered the most sinister of all mages. Why do you ask?"
A bit unsure of this, Areon still tells him, "I would like to speak with her. She seemed to know much when we last spoke."
"I would advise against that, Your Grace," Xaro warns, "She hails from Asshai, the Shadow Lands. People like her are not to be trusted."
Areon nods, "I understand, but I don't need to trust her to speak with her. Only for a minute."
Seeing his point, Xaro decides to concede, "Very well. But you should at least take some guards with you. For protection."
Areon nods since he doesn't want any more arguments as Quaithe is the only one in his mind.
0000000000
With Jorah and some guards provided by Xaro, Areon goes to the city, riding a chariot until they reach Quaithe's establishment which seems like a small temple of some sort. Xaro said it was a place where people go for her assistance, although it was rare. There was not much around the building as it was small with only one floor, with the walls low and plain with no windows, but pitch black along with the roof being flat, in between two buildings that seemed like market shops.
Areon leaves the chariot with Jorah behind him, who says, "It may not be wise to go in."
"She was in my dream Ser Jorah," Areon tells him, "She might know something."
"We should be focusing on getting out of the city," Jorah begs him, not believing they are safe here.
Having enough arguments, Areon orders, "You will stay here and wait for me, Ser Jorah."
Seeing the Targaryen will not be swayed, Jorah obeys, staying with the other guards as Areon goes up to the temple, slowly knocking on the door three times. Once he did his last knock, the door slowly opened, revealing the inside to be empty with some sort of candle placed on a pedestal in the middle of the room.
Areon feels hesitant but takes a deep breath and enters the room as the door slowly closes behind him. The room is dimly lit with only four flickering torches hanging on each of the four corners. As he steps inside, the sound of his footsteps echoes throughout the vast temple, making him feel small and insignificant. The room is empty, with no furniture or decorations, except for the pedestal in the middle of the room. A plain stone structure with a strange, black, spiral-shaped candle resting on top of it. Areon walks towards it, intrigued by its unique design. The candle appears to be made of some unknown material, and it's not lit, which makes it even more interesting.
Areon reaches out to touch the glass candle, but a voice stops them, "The glass candle has not been lit for over a century. It has remained silent and lifeless."
As Areon looks up, jumps in surprise with Quaithe's sudden appearance. His heart races from the shock as the two stand in silence, staring at each other intently. While Areon tries to regain his composure, Quaithe stands before him like a statue, her eyes piercing and inscrutable.
"Um," Areon tries to grasp his words, "I wanted to speak with you about…"
"Your dreams," Quaithe finishes his sentence, "You dream of the Undying."
"How did you know," Areon starts to ask.
"I saw you in the flames," Quaithe tells him, "I have seen your arrival and your dragons."
"The flames," Areon asked.
Before he could ask any more, Quaithe says, "The answers you seek are in the House of the Undying. They all shall be revealed. But be warned, some will take you and your dragon. For dragons are fire-made flesh." She says this while her eyes drift off to the candle as if she wanted it to do something.
Areon looks at the candle, then back up to see she is gone. Then he hears the door open again. Areon is more confused than ever with more questions than answers. He came here hoping that Quaithe would tell him about his dreams, but instead, she told him to go to the House of the Undying. He remembers Pyat Pree from the feast not too long ago, telling him he should visit. Maybe he should? Quaithe just told him that the answers are there, so why not?
0000000000
When coming back to Xaro's palace, Areon was still reeling from what he heard from Quaithe, but then he remembered that Xaro arranged another meeting with Jerika Longwaters. He wasn't making any promises, but Areon decided to at least hear her out. To not draw too much attention, Areon goes to the same room where he first met her, waiting until the doors open revealing the noblewoman.
"Hello," Areon said awkwardly while standing up from his seat, unsure how to do this.
"Your Grace," Jerika gives a bow before going to the seat, "You wish to speak with me?"
"Yes," Areon said as they both sat down, "You must understand how… confused I am with your offer. Or what Lord Jonathor is offering."
"I do understand," Jerika nods, "I'm sure you needed time to process the information, so I thought it would be best to leave you to it until you came to an answer."
"Yes," Areon said, "Um. I'm sorry, I don't know how to do this?"
Jerika gives a warm smile, "That's alright. I would like to start by asking this question. What do you want?"
"What," Areon asked in confusion, not expecting her to ask that.
"I have been hearing that many people in Qarth have been seeking an audience with you. Even the Pureborn who rules the city," Jerika explains, "Just to see your dragons, and yet you have been reluctant to do that."
Areon didn't say anything, but she was right. He knows mostly everyone wants to see him because of his dragons and he has made sure to be careful with them, due to Quaithe's advice which he believed to take.
"And I figured many of your people would like for you to take our offer, so I thought maybe someone should ask you for once," Jerika then says, "What is it that you want?"
Areon thought for a moment, and the answer was, "Home. I want to go home. To have a home for me and my sister."
Jerika smiles and nods, "Well, right now your home is taken by other people."
"It doesn't have to be the Red Keep," Areon argues gently, "It could be anywhere. I mean, my sister and I can go back to that ruined city we were in before we were found. We could stay there and make our civilization. Another Valyria?"
Jerika gives an impressed look, "An impressive feat. Quite ambitious too. But why do that when seven whole kingdoms are waiting for the taking?"
Areon didn't answer that as she had a point. Why make a civilization when there was already one made by his family? There for the taking. He's just not sure if he could do it. "It just seems so much."
"Which is why we can help," Jerika urges.
"But why," Areon said, "Why do you want to help? What do you have to gain from it?"
"A ruler on the throne who rules not over his people, but for his people," Jerika stated, "Besides, we are kin. Distant kin, but related, nonetheless. the founder of my family was Jaren Longwaters, a son of Jon Waters, the bastard son of Lord Alyn "Oakenfist" Velaryon, and Princess Elaena Targaryen. We share blood. And we also share much in common."
"We do," Areon raises a brow.
"Both of our families were not well known in the beginning. The Targaryens were living in Dragonstone before the Conquest and our family was founded on bastardy and living in hiding until both families went to aspire greatness and build something for us. My family built a home and riches, your family created a dynasty. The Red Keep, the Iron Throne, and the Seven Kingdoms were all made by your family. Stolen. Don't you want to take it all back?"
Areon thought about it. Why shouldn't he fight for his home that was stolen? It was everything his family had before having it all taken away, so what's stopping him? Why is he so reluctant to take it back?
Seeing she was breaking through to him, Jerika continues, "I know what it's like to have your home stolen from you. Or about to anyways."
Areon looks up to her, "You do?"
Jerika shifted a bit. She wasn't sure if she wanted to tell him, but maybe it would convince him, "Years ago, my home, Dawn Isle, was attacked by pirates. They came out of nowhere. We were completely unprepared. My father and two older brothers, Jessar and Terrance, tried to fight them off, but they died. Only my younger brother, Jonathor, survived. He was taken to the captain while my mother, my sisters, and I were with the crew as their prisoners for…." She stops as her voice begins to crack a bit. She took a deep breath before admitting, "their enjoyment."
Areon couldn't speak as he listened to this story. Too shocked to say anything. Especially when she just admitted that she, her sisters, and her mother were raped by the pirates.
"It took days, but my brother was able to somehow escape the pirates," Jerika continues as her voice begins to shake, "Luckily some loyalists were in the castle and were able to help us sneak out. We were able to get on a dingy and sail to Seaside Harbor, a port town not far from the island. And then Jonathor was able to get the ships we needed, fight back against the pirates, and take back our home. Because it was ours. It belonged to us. That is what our families have in common. We've both lost something we have spent generations to build. And must take it back.
Areon goes deep in thought. What if she was right? Maybe he should go to take back the Seven Kingdoms. For himself and his family. He can't lie, he does wish to take revenge on the people responsible for his family's downfall. The people were responsible for taking everything from him. Robert Baratheon, Jon Arryn, and Ned Stark are dead, but the others are still alive. Tywin Lannister killed Areon's sister-by-law, nephew, and niece, Elia Martell, and her children, Rhaenys and Aegon. Jaime Lannister, killed his father when he was meant to protect him. Along with other lords who fought against his family.
Areon always wondered why the Rebellion happened. Rumors said his father was a madman that needed to be stopped. Others said that his brother, Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped and raped Lyanna Stark even though she was betrothed to Robert Baratheon. Viserys kept saying they were nothing but lies. Areon was never sure, so maybe Jerika could say, but there was something else in his mind that was more pressing to him. "Lady Jerika, what do you know about the House of the Undying?"
Jerika gives a confused look, "Why do you want to know about that?"
Areon was going to tell her about his dream, but he didn't want her to think he was mad like his father, so he came up with another excuse, "Just curious about since the feast when I first arrived."
"When the warlock, Pyat Pree first came to you," Jerika guesses, "That's not something you wish to be bothered with."
"Why," Areon asked.
"That place is cursed with warlocks, called the Undying Ones," Jerika said, "Dangerous people whom you should stay away from. They practice strange magic and dark arts. They hardly ever go out of their House. You shouldn't concern yourself with them."
Areon can tell she doesn't want him to go, but his dreams say otherwise. He remembers Quaithe pointing at it, telling him to go, and the last time he dreamed about something, it came true. Maybe this one will too.
0000000000
Areon was in his room, sitting on the floor with Drogon and Rhaegal who were seemingly playing with each other. As he sits on the floor, his door opens, revealing it to be his sister with Viserion perched at her shoulder.
"Hi," Dany voiced softly.
Areon smiles at her, "Hi. How's Viserion?"
"He misses his father and brothers," Dany walks to crouch down next to her brother, placing the little dragon with the others.
Areon chuckles, remembering people kept calling him the Father of Dragons, "I met with Jerika again today." He looked to Dany, who didn't say anything, but still looked at him for more, "She was trying to convince me to pursue the Iron Throne."
"Oh," Dany looks at him, "I know you're still unsure about Westeros. I just want you to know that whatever you decide, I will support you," Dany tells him.
Areon looks to his sister, saying in a soft voice, "Thank you."
Dany nods, smiling at him as she truly wants to support him in whatever he does.
Then Areon decides to tell her, "But there is something that I would like to speak about. I had another dream."
Dany then gives her full attention, "About what?"
Areon takes a deep breath, "I think I need to go to the House of the Undying."
"The place the warlocks live in," Dany asked, "Why?"
Areon then says, "I remember the woman with the red mask, Quaithe. She was there. Telling me the truth lies in there. I don't know why or what's there, but I think I need to go. Whenever I dream of it, I feel like there's some type of pull taking me there."
Understanding how his dream works, Dany doesn't question it, "Then we'll go to the House of the Undying."
"Jerika Longwaters told me not to," Areon said, "She said they are dangerous people who practice the dark arts."
"Dark arts," Dany said as the memory of Mirri Maaz Duur still rang in her mind. She was now weary of magic or arts she didn't understand, but Areon had a dream and so far his dreams were coming true, so she said, "What do you think?"
Areon thinks deeply about what he should do. On one hand, he's getting advice not to by Jerika Longwaters who is their distant kin which Quaithe told him to trust, but on the other hand, Quaithe herself told him to go to that place where he remembers dreaming about. So, his decision was made.
0000000000
Xaro had warned the Targaryen siblings about the perils of seeking out the House of the Undying, but their determination and the power of their dragons were unyielding. To ensure their safety, Xaro arranged for an escort, which included Jorah and some Dothraki guards like Rakharo and Aggo. They embarked on a long journey to reach their destination, and finally, after much traveling, they arrived at the House of the Undying. The structure was just as Areon had dreamt it, a long and low building that resembled a coiled serpent, nestled amidst a grove of black-barked trees. The roof was covered in black tiles that were either fallen or broken, and the mortar between the stones was dry and crumbling. The grand entrance was fashioned like the mouth of a human face, adding an eerie touch to the already ominous presence as the sun was not shining as much as the rest of the city.
"It's exactly like my dreams," Areon whispered with Drogon on his shoulder.
"Your Grace," Jorah tries to persuade him, "We shouldn't be here? The warlocks cannot be trusted."
"A house of ghosts," Rakharo agrees. "See how it drinks the morning sun? Let us go before it drinks us as well."
"We've been in a city of ghosts before," Dany said, "How is this no different?"
"They are warlocks inside," Jorah said, "They don't kill with swords but with sorcery."
"Maybe," Areon said, "Or maybe they know something I need to know myself."
As he goes to the doors, Pyat Pree suddenly appears, startling everyone, "I am glad you have come to the House of the Undying. I take it you are tired of Xaro's useless baubles."
A bit frightened, Areon regains his composure, "I just want to know what you have to offer."
The Warlock didn't say anything, but kept his stone-cold face, gesturing him to go inside, "But before you go in, you must drink the shade of the evening." Suddenly a slender crystal glass appeared in his other hand, holding blue liquid which was also in Areon's dream. "Any who seeks the audience of the Undying must drink shade of the evening, so that they may hear and see the truths that will be laid before them."
Seeing the glass, Areon was about to take it before Jorah tried to stop him again, "Areon, please. You don't know what will happen."
"I dreamt about it," Areon tells him, "So I do know." And with that, he takes the glass, drinking the blue liquid. Like his dream, it tasted like spoiled meat, but he was able to gulp it down while leaving a blue-shaded color on his lips.
Seeing he drank the glass, Pyat Pree instructs him, "The front way leads in, but not out again. To reach the Undying, always take the first door on the right and always take the stairs up. Never enter any room until reaching the audience chamber. When leaving, you must follow the same path as before; always the first door to the right and always up the stairs."
Nodding, Areon goes up the stairs. His companions were going with him, but the Warlock stopped him, "He must go alone."
"We can't go with him," Dany asked.
"Only he seeks an audience with the Undying," Pyat Pree said, "He must go alone."
Jorah was about to say something, but Areon stopped him, "It's alright. I went alone in my dreams. I can do so here."
"Areon," Dany tries to say.
"I'll be ok," Areon assures her, "I have Drogon with me."
Seeing there was no persuading him, Dany nodded, "Then we'll be waiting for you when you're done."
Areon looks to Jorah for his thoughts, to which he simply nods. So, he took a deep breath and went to the door as it slowly opened so he could enter. A gust of wind blew to his face, but he went on to the dark halls as the doors slowly closed behind him as he went further in. Turning back, seeing the doors closed, Areon looks around, seeing nothing, but lite torches on the walls within the chamber with four doors.
As Areon made his way through the unfamiliar castle, he looked to his dragon companion, Drogon, who let out a small screech, as if guiding him onward. Following the Warlock's instructions, Areon entered the first door on the right of the first floor and began to climb the stairs. He repeated this process on the second and third floors, before finally reaching the fourth floor.
Here, he was faced with a daunting choice - six different passages, each leading to a different part of the castle. Remembering the Warlock's words, Areon chose the rightmost passage and cautiously made his way through it. As he emerged into a grand hall, he was struck by the sheer opulence of the room. The ceilings were draped with curtains, and the room was filled with an array of people, all dressed in the finest robes and garbs, adorned with luxurious jewelry. Their lips were all stained with varying shades of blue, adding to the otherworldly atmosphere of the room.
Pyat Pree was with them, standing before Areon, "Welcome, Father of Dragons."
Curious, Areon asked, "Who are all of you?"
"We are the Undying Ones," one of the women said. "We long have waited for you."
One of the men stated, "We knew you were to come to us."
"You did," Areon asked, shocked that they knew about him.
"A thousand years ago we knew," another man said, "And have been waiting all this time. We sent the comet to show you the way."
"The comet," Areon repeats, "Like my dreams?"
"We know of your dreams," Pyat Pree proclaims, "We have waited for you. And now we share with you our knowledge and magic weapons to arm you with. Stay with us and all your questions will be answered."
Areon suddenly felt uneasy and weak. He wasn't sure why, so he decided to sit like they said, "I had a dream about this place, the House of the Undying. It was said you all had the truth?"
"And the truth you shall have," Pyat Pree said in a low voice as Areon's vision began to be distorted.
Areon wanted to do something, but soon everything went black, but he then started to hear something. Some kind of noise. It sounded painful moaning. He looks behind him, seeing a beautiful woman, naked, and being attacked by what seems to be four little men. The woman seemed to be in pain while the little men were clawing at her. Unable to see this, Areon rushes in to help her, but as he grabs one of the little men, it all disappears.
He was confused. What happened? The woman was there and now she's gone. But his questions vanished when somehow, Areon found himself in a large room that seemed to hold a grand feast of some sort. Areon looks around. There were tables filled with food and drinks, but also people lying on them, and the floor too in pools of some red liquid. Confused, Areon goes to one of the people, thinking maybe they were asleep or passed out drunk since there seemed to be win cups everywhere, thinking that's what the red liquid is. He tries to stir one of the people awake, but then the person fell to the floor on his back, showing his neck was slit with blood seeping out.
Areon covers his mouth in shock while trying to catch himself from falling on the table, only to see he put that hand on the red liquid. He looks at it, realizing it is blood, and then it dawns on him that everyone in the room is dead in pools of blood. Wanting to get away, Areon tries to find some way out, only to find something more disturbing. At the front of the room, sitting on a throne of some sort was a body of a man with a wolf's head on top wearing an iron crown.
Not able to handle this anymore, Areon looks behind him, seeing grand doors for his escape. He ran straight through it. Once they were closed, Areon rested his head on the doors, taking deep breaths from what he had just seen. A feast of corpses, having one of them with a wolf for a head. Just as he tries to gather himself, Areon suddenly feels weak, as if he were running a hundred miles.
"Burn them all," A voice booms so suddenly, causing Areon to turn with fear, seeing who it was. He found himself in a large, cavernous room with dragon skulls hanging on the walls all around. But what captured his attention was at the end of the room, a barbed throne seemingly made out of swords, with a savage-looking man sitting on it. He had long, yellow nails, and silver-gold hair tangled in knots, with cuts and marks all over his arms, but dressed in fine robes and a golden crown on his head with a mad look in his eyes.
"Burn them all," He kept repeating in a mad tone, "Let him rule a kingdom of ash and bones! Burn them all! Burn them all! BURN THEM ALL!"
Terrified by this, Areon wants to go back to the doors but remembers the feast of corpses on the other side, then looks to the side, seeing a door waiting for him. He rushes to the door, opening it and closing it behind him.
Leaning on it, Areon tries to grasp what he is seeing when he then sees he is in a bedroom where a woman is lying in bed, carrying a baby in her arms while a man is sitting next to them. The woman had brown skin, eyes, and hair while the man, Areon presumed to be her husband, had fair skin and silver-gold hair, and indigo eyes.
The woman looks at the man, "Will you make a song for him?"
"He has a song," the man said, "He is the prince that was promised, and he is the song of ice and fire." The woman smiles as she looks down at her child.
"There must be one more," the man said again, seemingly looking up to Areon, saying, "The dragon has three heads."
Areon was confused, wondering if the man was talking to him or not. The man didn't say anything else but went to a harp that was nearby and began playing something.
As Areon hears the man begin to play, he hears the door behind him give out a creak as it slowly opens itself. Areon looks to see there was a field pasture on the other side. He looks back to see the man, his wife, and his child are all gone with the room now empty when he suddenly hears a faint screeching.
"Drogon," Areon shouts, hearing the screech coming from the door.
As Areon carefully makes his way to the other side of the field, he takes in the calm and peaceful atmosphere, with a gentle breeze blowing on his face. Still feeling weaker, Areon decides to sit down, wondering what is happening to him. His eyes were getting heavy, his body was getting tired. He wasn't sure what was going on. Suddenly a sound behind him and turns to see a black doe staring at him. Areon is slightly startled but then feels a gentle presence emanating from the doe as it slowly walks toward him. Not wanting to scare the animal, Areon slowly reaches out to pet it on the snout.
After a few seconds, the doe looks up at Areon before turning and running away. Suddenly, a roar echoes through the field, and Areon turns around to see a large cave filled with golden lions. One lion, larger and more powerful than the rest, stands above them all, its golden mane flowing in the wind as it roars. Its mighty teeth are bared, and it seems to be the king of the lions.
However, the great lion suddenly grew weary, with its golden mane falling off, slowly laying down on the rock as if it were dying. Areon concluded it had died as it was not moving, but closing its eyes and never opening them again. The other lions roar at their dead leader and then begin roaring and growling at each other until they begin to fight one another, becoming a bloodbath as they tear themselves apart.
Not wanting to get mauled by the fighting, Areon tried to run away when another fierce roar, louder and more powerful than any of the lions, was heard in the skies. Areon looks up to see a large black dragon flying through the skies, sweeping down at the fighting lions, breathing its unholy fire at some of them. Areon looks to see some of the lions burning in the fire and dying while others are running away, but roaring at the dragon that flies back to the sky.
The dragon circles, seeming to be coming back when a huge beast flies through the skies, striking at the dragon. The beast seemed to be wearing a green cloth of some sort. It bored the torso of a woman, the wings of a bat, the legs of an eagle, and a scorpion's curled and venomous tail. The two great beasts were in the sky, biting, clawing, and tearing each other apart until they came crashing down in the field with Areon so close to them.
Areon screams in terror as he tries to get away from the fight as the dragon, breathing fire, starts burning everything in sight. Seeing the cave the lions were in, Areon ran there to safety as the fighting kept going. Once in the cave, Areon looks back to the outside and sees the dragon and the other beast where fighting, so he decides to go further in the cave. The light in the cave begins dying out as he goes further in when he sees a small light on the ground. Areon goes to see what it is and finds it to be a lit torch on the ground. He picks it up to use it for light in the dark, but as he looks around with the torch in his hand, he sees something strange. On the cave walls, there were strange markings all over it.
Areon couldn't make out any of it as the markings were more like circles and spirals, but some seemed like drawings of ominous-looking people carrying slender swords. They were gaunt and bone-like, but one of them had a beard, seeming whiter than the rest. Areon wasn't sure what to think about it, but he heard a screeching again before he could think what it was. This time, louder.
"Drogon," Areon yells as he looks around the cave when he hears the screeching again, hearing from deep within the cave.
As Areon went deeper into the cave, the air around him grew colder and colder until he saw an opening. He stepped through the opening and was met with a strong gust of wind and snow. When he emerged from the cave, he found himself surrounded by snow and ice, with the ground beneath him solid as ice. Despite the icy terrain, he explored the area and discovered that he was inside a building made entirely out of snow and ice. As he walked around, he came across what he initially thought was a cliff, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was a massive wall made of ice.
The wind is blowing all around Areon, who doesn't know what to do. He tries to go back to the cave, but when he looks back, he sees it's gone. Starting to panic, Areon tries to figure out how to get out, but as he does, he sees a blue flower growing out of the chink in the wall. Wondering how a flower could survive the cold, Areon goes to touch it. Once he touches it, however, the ground begins to crack and shake, and everything crumbles around him. Areon tries to get to safety but falls right through the cracks as the wall begins to fall. For a few moments, he can't see anything but white all around him as he appears to be falling. He tries to scream, but then he suddenly finds himself no longer falling but at the bottom of the wall, which is now destroyed.
As Areon tries to get up, he looks at the now destroyed wall, amazed that he has survived the fall. But now, he feels even weaker than before, as if something is sucking him dry. Suddenly, he hears a galloping sound coming from behind. Areon turns and is scared to death when he sees what is behind him. Before him stands a corpse-like horse with a terrifying creature on its back. The creature looks like a man, but it has blue skin, is demon-like, has glowing blue eyes, and a crown of ice spikes sticking out of its head. The creature just looks at Areon, with eyes that have nothing in them, nothing but death of some kind. Terrified, Areon tries to back away from it, only to trip and fall on the ground, which suddenly becomes a hard stone.
Gathering himself, Areon felt the cold winds suddenly gone. He looks up to see the blue creature gone and so is the snow and the great ice wall.
As Areon opens his eyes, he finds himself surrounded by ancient walls adorned with intricate dragon carvings. The room looks like a bedroom from another era, and the air is thick with the smell of brimstone. As he tries to get his bearings, his gaze falls upon a woman sitting at a windowsill nearby. She is beautiful with her long, shimmering silver-gold hair, dressed in a black and red flowing gown while wearing a dragon diadem. Despite her beauty, she appears to be exhausted as her violet eyes look dull and tired, lost in her thoughts as she gazes out the window towards the vast sea beyond.
Areon was still on the floor, feeling weaker by the minute. As if life was being drained from himself. He reaches out to the woman, pleading softly, "Help. Help me."
The woman didn't do anything, as if she didn't hear a word. Suddenly a man comes in. He was tall, powerfully built with silver-gold hair and purple eyes, coming up to the woman, placing his hand on her shoulders. "You need to go to bed. You haven't slept in days."
"How can I after seeing what I saw," the woman murmurs.
"It was just a dream," the man said, "It might not be the same as the others."
"Or maybe it was," the woman said, turning to the man with tears in her eyes, "What if it comes true like the others? It felt so real. Those things. Those creatures. And that man with those eyes. Those blue glowing eyes…"
The woman then starts crying as the man takes her to his embrace, trying to comfort her but to no avail. Then they faded away to blackness as Areon started to lay on the ground as he was growing more weary than ever. He looked around to see he was back in the great hall with the Undying Ones, except he was feeling weaker by the minute. As if he was being drained alive. He looks up to see the Undying Ones were no longer in their fine robes, nor did they look human, but horrifying, grotesque beings. They all look ancient and withered, with their flesh, nails, and even the whites of their eyes being shades of blue or violet blue.
"When your dragons were born, our magic was born again," Pyat Pree said as his true form was revealed, "It is the strongest in their presence. And they are strongest on yours. And it is your presence the Undying desires."
And once that was said, they all came on top of him. Areon tries to run, but can't. He just stayed where he was, seemingly frozen in place as his strength grew weaker by the second when the Undying Ones went to him grabbing his body. His head, neck, body, torso, legs, and feet were all being grabbed on and he suddenly felt weaker as the seconds passed. He tried to scream, but couldn't as his vision began to fade away when suddenly, flames spewed into the air, then at the Undying Ones. The Undying Ones let go of Areon as he saw it was Drogon who started to fly around, spitting fire at everything.
First at some of the Undying ones, then at the hanging curtains and everything else around the room. The Undying Ones try to catch Drogon, but the young dragon flies around the room for the first time, burning everything in sight. Eventually, Drogon spit fire at one of the Undying Ones which spread to others, causing them all to scream in pain. Areon, regaining consciousness, tries to get up as fire and smoke fill the room. Drogon went to Areon who was able to get up and run out of the room. Pyat Pree and some of the other Undying Ones, try to stop him, but the smoke suffocates them.
0000000000
Dany, Jorah, and the Dothraki were all waiting outside for Areon to come back. Dany was fidgeting her fingers while Jorah kept looking at the door, hoping for Areon to come out, even though the Warlock said Areon would come out somewhere else.
"How long has he been in there," Dany asks.
Jorah thinks, "It's been almost an hour. Perhaps," He was going to keep going, but he then smelled smoke coming from the building. He and Dany looked at the building, seeing that smoke and fire were coming out. Fearing for Areon's life, Jorah was ready to barge in the doors, only for them to burst open with Areon falling to the floor with Drogon. Dany and Jorah rush to his aid, asking if he is alright. Areon tries to answer, but exhaustion takes over as he passes out with everything turning black.
Follow, favorite, and share your thoughts of this chapter on the reviews.