Baela had always been a light sleeper, only more so since Rhaena left for the Vale, so she was woken the moment she heard the commotion coming from the courtyard. Instantly rushing to her feet she looked from her tower window down at the courtyard, men were fighting in the dark by torchlight. It was hard to tell from her viewpoint but one side, far outnumbered by the other, was trying to keep the other from entering the Stone Drum. As she watched, several men pushed their way through and into the keep, Baela pulled back from the window and tossed aside the nightgown she had been wearing.
Moving fast she tugged on a pair of leggings and a black tunic. She wasn't certain if the men breaking into the castle were members of the garrison chasing after an enemy that had snuck its way into the castle, or more likely, they were the enemy and had just gotten inside. Either way, she wasn't going to sit and wait for them to come to her. Once she was at least partially dressed to run she set the bolt down over the door to buy herself a little more time. Before she could do anything else though, there was one other person in the room she had to take care of.
Near her own bed was a cradle that Visenya rested in, oblivious to the sounds of battle happening outside and inside the castle.
It had been Baela's own insistence that her sister share her room with her, she had never not shared a room with someone, her twin before, and it felt comforting to keep the only remaining family she had on the island close to her at all times. Besides the comfort it gave Baela it was for practical reasons as well, Visenya was a princess, the daughter of Rhaenyra, and after the deaths of Lucerys, Viserys, and Jacaerys the toddler was third in line for Rhaenyra's throne. When her stepmother had left to claim King's Landing Baela swore she would protect her sister and now was the time to keep her word.
"Visenya, I need you to wake up," Baela said gently, stroking the infant's hair, Visenya had not yet reached her second name day.
"Bae-bae," Her sister cooed twisting in her cradle.
"Yep, that's me, we're going on a little adventure, plenty of fun but first we need to go," Baela lifted her little sister out of the cradle and into her arms.
"Where goin'?" Visenya lisped.
Baela gathered up some cloth and started wrapping around her sister. "We're going to see Moondancer and taking a super secret way, doesn't that sound fun?"
Visenya nodded though Baela doubted she really understood. The teen concentrated on getting the cloth into a makeshift sling for the babe.
Someone banged against the door, the sudden noise stated Visenya and the little girl started to cry.
"Open this door in the na-name of the King!" A man shouted, it sounded far less threatening with the stutter.
Baela ignored the man and finished her work on the sling, it wasn't perfect but it would hold Visenya tight to her and that was enough.
"Time to go little dragon," Baela said, securing Visenya in the sling and getting it wrapped around herself. The pounding on the door got harder and harder, the bolt starting to crack under the banging. But it didn't matter to Baela, they could have the old room, she climbed out the window and onto the overhang beneath her window. Hugging the wall, Baela slowly made her way away from the tower to a section with another ledge slightly lower and slid her way down to it. The sounds of fighting continued as she crept her way further and further down until she reached Aegon's Gardens which was separated by a wall from the courtyard and the one-sided battle.
"Okay, we just need to get to the stables," Baela said mostly to herself.
The quickest way to the main stables where her dragon rested was through the main courtyard, but that way was obviously out. The next best way was going around, through the gardens, to the kitchen, past the servant quarters, and back out around the other side of the central courtyard, and then she could get to Moondancer. She kept crouched close to the ground, sticking to the bushes of flowers in case any of the attackers decided to search the gardens, and froze when she heard footsteps stomping through the grass. She held Visenya close and prayed the bushes would keep them hidden.
Two men in the livery of Dragonstone tore through the garden and raced past where the sisters were hidden, a third man, his clothes stained red, stumbled and fell with a groan. Before Baela could decide whether to check on the man more men of the garrison entered the gardens, weapons drawn and grinning.
"Got another one," One of the men said prodding the fallen garrison man.
A mustached guardsman sniffed. "Should have sided with the King, would have lived longer. Come on, we have to hunt down the rest of them."
Baela didn't so much as breathe till all the men had moved on, so it was traitors in the garrison attacking, she thought, that helped explain how they managed to get inside the castle. But it had little importance on Baela's goal, she just needed to get to Moondancer and keep Visenya safe. Her little sister, oblivious to the danger, had fallen asleep in her arms.
There was a passageway from the gardens into the kitchen that Baela had sometimes used to swipe pastries. It was mostly used by the castle servants instead of the garrison so it was ungarded and Baela got in without being noticed. The castle had been built to hold a large host and had several kitchens but with so many gone for the war only a few were currently in use.
Even at night though, the kitchens were supposed to be active, something Ser Robert insisted on, so she expected to find at least some people in the small side kitchen she chose to go through. What she had hoped not to see though was the man wearing the Targaryen colors illuminated by a lit cooking fire tearing the kitchens apart over the corpse of a cook.
Baela muttered a silent curse and hid behind a wall, peering out the side of it as the man tossed aside cups and bread. Besides the man and the dead cook the kitchen had been emptied, the rest of the staff had probably been chased out or taken to the dungeons. There were two overturned tables a spilled pot of stew that mixed with the blood of the dead man.
"Damn it, where do they keep the wine around here!" The man shouted tossing an empty flagon over his shoulder and it shattered on the ground. The sudden noise brought Visenya to whimpers that Baela did her best to silence without alerting the looter. "Did that great hog drink everything!"
The man had his back to Baela, intent on his looting, and did not notice as she moved from the entrance to an upturned table.
"Pork, beets, cheese, nothing good here," The man muttered, digging deeper into the pantry. "Nothing sweet, no drinks, where do they keep the good stuff?"
Baela slid along the ground, paused at the break between the two tables to make sure the man hadn't turned around before quickly switching to the next. There was a corridor that would lead her further into the castle and closer to the stables, getting up to a crouch she silently moved on.
"A-ha!" The man called out, Baela tensed, ready to run. "Finally something good, thought you could hide from old Squint, this looks like some good red."
Baela sighed, hurrying on as fast as she could without alerting the man leaving him to his stolen goods. If she was right the corridor would loop around the servants' quarters and lead back to the central courtyard and, hopefully, avoid any more attackers.
"Mmm, hungry," Visenya whimpered starting to stir in her sling.
"Shh, shh, it's okay," Baela bounced Visenya. "We'll get you something to eat once we're safe, just go to sleep please."
Visenya grunted but went still and Baela was able to continue, the hall was deathly quiet with little signs of the fight that was going on. The black stone of her ancestral home blocked out any sounds of combat, if there was still any fighting going on at this point, from what she had seen, the traitors had the numbers and surprise. Turning a corner there were open passageways leading to the servant quarters and another that led her where she wanted to go.
A shout rang out followed by a crash. "Where is she!"
"I-I don't know," Came a feeble answer, the speaker cried out as the man shouting struck them. Baela glanced into the servant quarters where a soldier was standing over a cowering old man who held his hands up trying to ward off the soldier's anger.
"Then think of where she might be!" The soldier demanded. "We know she would use these passages to get around, tell us where Baela Targaryen is!"
Baela crept past as the soldier continued to interrogate the old man, she kept Visenya's ears covered as she did. She just needed to keep moving, that is what she told herself, keep moving and keep her sister safe. Once she got to Moondancer she could take to the skies and then show the traitors how Targaryens did battle.
The passageway continued past the servants' quarters and the shouts of the soldier faded away, Baela kept an eye out for any other attackers searching for her but saw none. Eventually, she came out the other end to the central courtyard and had to crouch back down behind the solid banister before the gathered invaders spotted her or Visenya. There were dozens of them gathered, over half the garrison, all dressed in House Targaryen's colors, many stained with blood and standing over fallen guards. At the center of the gathering was Ser Alfred Broome standing with a darker-skinned man in knight's armor Baela did not recognize, held down by two invaders was old Grand Maester Gerardys, glaring up at his captors.
"I will ask you only once old man," Alfred sneered. "Where is Baela and Visenya Targaryen? They were not in their chambers, where have you hidden them?"
The Grand Maester stiffened his lip. "I would not tell you anything Ser."
Alfred back-handed the maester and he fell to the ground. "We will find them, it will only become harder on them the longer it takes. Now remember your Maesters oath to the holder of the castle and tell me where they are!"
Gerardys pushed himself to a sitting position. "My oath is to the holder of the castle and that was Ser Robert and Lady Baela, neither has yielded the castle yet."
"Insolent old fool," Alfred grabbed for his sword but was stopped by the other knight.
"Enough Ser Alfred he will tell us nothing," The knight said, the traitor turned his anger on him.
"He will in time," Alfred yanked his arm free. "I would also remind you Ser Marston who holds command here."
"That would be King Aegon," Marstone replied flatly. "And he will pass judgment on the Maester and we need him alive for that to happen. Until his majesty arrives we must continue the search for the girls."
Baela moved on unnoticed, the two knights argued, and the invaders watched, the stables were not far now.
The stables inside the castle had been built mostly for horses but it was also built to accommodate a dragon. It had been tradition in the past for there to always be a Targaryen on the island to defend it and the stables had been adjusted so the guardian's dragon would be at hand for an emergency. It was stone and built into the castle rising half-a-hundred feet to the room and long enough to hold a hundred horses or a single young dragon. Like most of the island, it had dragon statues carved above the entrance, two giant doors of hardwood, and the roof was lined with patterns made to look like dragon scales. At the moment only two men stood guard at the main entrance, most likely gathered in the courtyard or searching for Baela.
They probably never thought she would have snuck past the lot of them and would be able to make her way to the stables unnoticed. The final obstacle was getting by the men, attacking directly wasn't an option, too much noise, difficult, and put Viseya at risk. Her best chance would be climbing in through the sides, there was an opening between the roof and the side walls for air that was wide enough for a person to get through, and the old stone had some dents that would help her climb.
There were plenty of barrels and feed stacks that hid her approach, the guards were on edge, probably because they were standing guard over a dragon. Even from where Baela hid she could hear Moondancer's growls and hisses, each one caused the men to jump and kept them farther from the entrance than they should have been. But their unease just made it easier for Baela to reach the side.
"Okay Visenya, a little climb and we can go flying," Baela whispered to her sister. "Sound fun?"
She doubted Visenya had any true understanding of what was going on but she did seem to catch on that they needed to be quiet and nodded, clutching Baela's tunic tight. Baela took a breath and began to climb, it was easier without her usual boots and gloves to get a hand-hold. The extra weight of Visenya wasn't much but it, along with keeping her sister secure against her, did slow her progress more than Baela would have liked. It took a bit of work to get over the lip of the opening with Visenya clinging to her chest but with some awkward positioning that nearly sent her tumbling onto the ground below she managed to get onto the opening on her back. Twisting and maneuvering in place she got herself around and started her descent into the stables.
Her fingers burned and she was covered in sweat by the time she collapsed on the floor, part of her wanted to just rest, but she got back to her feet and approached her dragon. Moondancer was still pretty young, about as large as Arrax had been when he died, at around the size of a large war horse. Pale green with pearly white patches, a tail as long as her body with long spines, and a bright frill on her head. When she noticed Baela her hisses stopped and made a warbling noise of greeting to her rider.
"Hey girl, we're going flying again now," Baela stroked her bonded partner, Moondancer leaned into her and sniffed at Visneya. "I've brought along a passenger, so be gentle with her."
Baela lifted Visenya out of her sling and set her down on the ground so she could wander while she got Moondancer saddled. Visenya didn't really wander far, finding some unburnt straw to play with while Baela lifted the saddle, specially made for Dragon Riding with built-in fastening chains and a pair of steering grips. Moondancer held still through the process but Baela could feel her dragon tense, ready to take to the skies she had been denied for too long.
Forgetting her straw, Visenya toddled to her feet and approached Moondancer, Baela had brought her sister to visit her several times even if she never took Visenya flying so the dragon was familiar with the young Targaryen. Visenya smiled and patted Moondancer's side, cooing at the dragon who didn't mind the babe, rubbing her long neck against Baela as she finished with the final straps and undoing the last chain that kept the dragon on the ground.
Baela scooped her up and got into the saddle. "Rise, Moondancer," She commanded in High Valyrian.
Moondancer roared, a deep rumble mixed with a higher-pitched screech, and rose up walking to the center of the stables.
"Dracarys!" Baela commanded. Moondancer roared and a blast of pale green fire tinged with white shot from the dragon. She was still young and her fire was nowhere near as strong as Vhaegar's had been but it was still dragon fire, more than enough to burn through the wooden door no matter the wood. And the wood did burn, cracking and breaking under the flames, screams of surprise and fear reached her from beyond the door, the guards fleeing from the sudden blaze.
Moondancer added two more blasts of flame to the blaze and soon the door was cracking and falling apart, smoke wafted through the stables and Baela had to cover Visenya's mouth but most rose and passed through the openings. Once there was a large enough gap in the burning door Bael reared her dragon towards it, Moondancer rushed the opening, always fast even on the ground, she got close and at a tug from her rider the dragon leaped through the opening, spread her wings, and took to the skies.
The fire and roars had drawn the attention of the attacks and dozens were rushing to the stables but Baela pulled Moondancer higher, well above spear reach and none brought bows with them. It would be easy to burn them all, make them pay for their treachery, and take back Dragonstone all her own. It was what her father would have done, it was what Jace would have done.
The roar of another dragon halted any plans of attacking the invaders, Baela looked up and saw a dragon that should have been dead, flying towards the castle. The golden scars were marred with scars that Baela could see from her own dragon, and one wing seemed weaker than the other as it flew unsteadily, but there was no denying that the dragon coming towards them was Sunfyre. And, while even harder to make out than the dragon Baela could see a rider on Sunfyre's back and there was only one person Baela knew who that could be, Aegon Targaryen, son of Viserys I, the one the Green Faction had proclaimed king.
Sunfyre roared again, more mangled sounding than Baela remembered from the times she saw him in King's Landing, probably from the wounds he sustained during his duel with her grandmother Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys. Despite his wounds he was still far larger than Moondancer and was approaching fast, soon he would be right on top of her. A strong part of Baela wanted to rise to face her cousin, if she defeated Aegon here then she could win the entire war. In Sunfyre's current state he would be unable to match Moondancer's speed, she could fly circles around him and burn the rider before the dragon could even think to turn.
Baela almost tugged Moondancer up but Visenya squirmed in Baela's lap, giggling at her first flight. The reminder of her little sister pulled Baela back, she had a different mission, to protect her sister and the daughter of her queen. Others could handle Aegon once she alerted the Blacks, Rhaenyra herself could come and take him.
"Flee Moondancer, we must flee!" Baela commanded. Her dragon growled, wanting to fight the older male, but she followed her rider's orders.
Moondancer shot high into the sky rising above Sunfyre before he got too close, as they soared up Baela looked down to see Aegon's eyes locked on hers. For a heartbeat, she feared he would try to follow them but instead, he guided his dragon down towards the courtyard.
He was after Dragonstone. "You can take it usurper," Baela said, clutching Visenya tight as they finished their ascent and Moondancer straightened out. "You're not my priority."
Moondancer soared over the waters of the Blackwater, following Baela's commands away from Dragonstone. Baela thought about flying to King's Landing and Rhaenyra directly but that would take a long time, even on a dragon as fast as Moondancer, for Visenya who had not yet turned two to be in the air. It was best to get her back safe on the ground as soon as possible, luckily there was someplace safe very close by.
Baela had visited Driftmark many times given how close it was to Dragonstone and it being the home of her mother's family. The island was larger than Dragonstone, lacked the volcano that made the island perfect for dragons, and Castle Driftmark was smaller than Dragonstone's own castle. It had a gentler beauty to it that Dragonstone lacked, prosperous fishing towns dotted the coast, though she could see the ruins of Spicetown and High Tide, a blackened area of the island after the Greens' Myrish allies torched them. Instead Baela flew Moondancer to the southern part of the island where Castle Driftmark and the town of Hull sat.
She circled Moondancer around the castle twice, Visenya cheering as they turned, before Baela directed her bonded companion to land. A small gathering of men-at-arms, knights, and courtiers had gathered at the top of the castle where an area was kept clear for dragons. Moondancer landed gracefully and lowered herself further so Baela and Visenya could slide off, three broke away from the crowd and approached them.
To the left was the elderly Maester Kelvyn, half-blinded from the fire of High Tide and stooped with age he still moved to keep up with the others. To the right was a small woman, same height as Baela she noted, pretty with braided brown hair and blue-green eyes, Baela hadn't met her before but she guessed she was Marilda of Hull, mother of the third and lead figure.
Alyn Velaryon had the Valyrian looks to him, long silver hair tied up behind him and purple eyes, his skin was weathered from years spent in the dockyards, a common trait with Velaryons. Though now a noble after his legitimization, Baela's cousin still wore the rough clothing of sailors and carried a sword at his side the heir of Driftmark stopped short of Moondancer and dipped his head in greeting.
"Lady Baela what brings you and the little princess here at this hour?" He asked, his voice had a strong Driftmark accent, far stronger than Jace's had been.
"Dragonstone has fallen," Baela said bluntly. "We need to send a message to the Queen in King's Landing immediately."
Maester Kelvyn sputtered and Alyn's eyes widened just a little, he looked to the Maester and nodded, the old man shuffling away to the roost as fast as he could.
"This will be dark tiding, for Dragonstone to fall now, a bad omen it is," Alyn said, looking in the direction of Dragonstone, though it was not in sight from the southern part of the island.
Baela nodded. "It is, we need to start planning on how to recover."
Marilda rubbed her son's shoulder. "There is much I am sure you two need to discuss but it would be best to do so inside. Perhaps I might take the princess to bed?"
Baela looked down at her sister. Visenya, once her flight had ended had quickly grown tired, was half-asleep in Baela's arms. Baela was loath to leave her sister unattended though and hesitated.
"My mother has always been good with children, she'll be safe with her," Alyn assured Baela. "Come let us show you to the kitchens, I am sure you are hungry after your daring escape, then you can tell us all what happened and we can discuss what to do next."
Marilda held her hands out for Visenya, Baela reluctantly gave her over after telling Marilda to feed Visenya and followed after Alyn, Moondancer called after her but settled with a gesture from Baela. Baela cast a final look to the sky, as if looking for a sign of what would come, before she entered Driftmark and the safety it provided.