Taking a moment to rest after claiming Vermithor I felt the wind of the island bash against my skin irritating it. I looked at my hands and saw the reason for it. From the fires of Vermithor the top layers of skin had burnt off or on the verge of peeling off. Without the adrenaline of the conflict that happened I could feel the sunburn all over my skin.
"I hope they have some kind of medieval cream for this, no they probably think it's a foolish endeavor or something only nobles could buy—" I said but was interrupted by the roar of Vermithor.
He raised his neck to the skies and I followed what he was pointing at, two dragons. From this distance I could only see the outline of a red one followed by a green with orange wings.
I need to make a decision quickly. Run for the hills or stay and be judged by them for taking a dragon. Vermithor bent his head to look at me. If I cowarded now and left it could ruin the image of me that I had shown to him recently. Our bond is fresh but would he defend a rider of only a couple of minutes against two dragons? I looked at him and gently touched his face, "Lykirỉ" I said, deciding to meet the dragon riders.
Hopefully the red one wasn't Caraxes as meeting a chaotic Daemon could yield a bad result. Closer and closer they came until they flew over us no doubt to inspect what Vermithor's situation was. Thankfully I could make out the yellow spikes that adorned the red dragon's neck, it was Meleys the Red Queen. The other dragon with olive skin and pale orange wings I believe belongs to Jacaerys Velaryon, eldest son to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.
They flew over us once more with the third time being their landing. At a far enough distance one would think that the three dragons were facing off against each other. In reality it felt more like a greeting of some kind with Vermithor making low growls as if showing his new toy to the other dragons present.
I watched as Meleys rider came down from her back and was surprised to see her up close. She had black hair streaked with white different from the show but I could still recognize her face. The other rider I knew immediately, Jacaerys Velaryon who still had his thick black hair that did not resemble a Targaryen in the slightest.
Jacaerys approached quickly at first with anger in his step. A few meters away, Vermithor stopped him with a growl prompting him to stop. He looked at both me and the dragon not with hatred but anger. It was to be expected with the loss of his little brother and it probably was just a few hours ago he had received the news.
"Who is it that dared steal a dragon from house Targaryen during these times? Whose nameless bastard are you, Aemond's huh? What are you, a waters, snow, sand?" he said through his clenched teeth.
"Does it matter in the end?" And I could not help but look at his black hair.
He gripped the handle of his sword, "know your place bastard–" Rhaenys touched his shoulder stopping him.
She raised her hands and walked towards me not wanting to gain Vermithor's fury. Seeing her in full armor I hesitated taking a step back while pulling out one of my knives behind my back. Once in front of me her purple eyes met my own bright amethyst eyes. Rhaenys squinted her eyes doubting what she was seeing and proceeded to grab my head moving it side to side as she looked at my facial features and I let her, wanting a peaceful outcome to this.
"Did no one really send you here child?" She asked, staring into my eyes.
"No your grace, I swear it." I lied.
"Even to the new gods and the old?" She insisted with a raised brow.
"Maybe just the old, I'm still working it out." I answered this time truthfully.
Rhaenys pulled out a small piece of bread from under her breastplate that had already been ripped apart elsewhere. She took a piece of it into her mouth and gave me the other half to eat, "you're under both mine and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's protection while you remain in Dragonstone."
"This can't be allowed, the dragons are sacred and only to be kept by the Targaryens. Mother—the Queen she can't..." Jacaerys spoke, each word becoming quieter than the last. He ducked his head looking at the ground, "why won't she speak to me." He said turning around and flying off to Dragonmont.
"Can you follow me back to the mont?" Asked Rhaenys.
I nodded thinking it should be easy to do. However there's a difference between a claimed dragon and a trained one as Vermithor didn't even wait for my command. When I sat on top of his back he launched himself into the air, thankfully in the direction of dragon stone. At least for a short minute I could enjoy the ride without him trying to kill me.
Inside Meleys dropped off Rhaenys on a stone bridge they used to get into the castle, the same one from the show. While Vermithor parked next to it I saw the dragonkeepers arguing with her. As soon as I stepped off Vermithor he left without saying goodbye unlike Meleys who waited until Rhaenys dismissed her.
I sighed knowing that there was work ahead to strengthen our bond. The monk-like order flanked me once Vermithor was out of eyesight with their wooden staffs that resembled that of a shepherd's.
Rhaenys let out a chuckle seeing their actions, "he has the blood of the dragon in his veins, look at his eyes. He'll be in your hands." She said in High Valyrian.
"A dragon of the slums. It's heresy to have him ride a dragon! They are the last embers of the glory of Valyria and now given freely to what? A bastard of Westeros?" Spoke one of the elders of the order of dragonkeepers.
"Vermithor chose me. Who are you to talk over their decisions or do you wish to go against the scared dragon of Valyria?" I was offended by their remarks.
Rhaenys looked at me, "you know Valyrian?"
I acted a fool for speaking, if I told them little finger thought me they might end my life or worse. A white light wouldn't hurt, "I've been learning it from them." I pointed to the dragonkeepers who looked puzzled at one another, "today isn't the first time I've roamed these caves. I listened to them talk and figured out the words so I could talk to the dragons of old Valyria. A dragon is the closest being I have that might connect me to my father or mother. In no way do I wish to abuse them." I said hoping to win them over with the looks of an abandoned ten year old. "Would the dragonkeepers please teach me the ways of Valyria." I spoke in a low timid voice trying to pull their heart strings.
Most of the elders of the order simply glanced at one another unsure of what to say but there was still an element of intolerance of what I did. Astonishingly the acolytes spoke in their ears trying to convince them, "if the Queen decides your fate is to be raised as a dragon rider then the order will comply." Was all they said and left to do their duties.
Rhaenys raised her hand signalling for me to follow her through the castle. The hallways were all stone with many of the subtle details having designs inspired by house Targaryen while the large decorations normally depicted dragons. Nearly all the rooms and walls had the banner of the Targaryen house. Most of the servants gossiped when they saw me with the soldiers or knights giving their attention with a bow to Rhaenys as we passed them. Eventually we arrived at the room where I will be staying.
"Do not leave unless a servant comes to fetch you." She sighed looking at me over once more, "I'll call for a tub to get you washed first and a maester to help heal your skin, or is it naturally this tone?"
"No, I hope not."
She nodded and left in a hurry. I opened the door to my new room, finding a simple layout without a window to the outside with only a couple of torches. It was relatively large with a king's bed on the left side with its own little roof of wood with curtains at its side embedded with a dragon design in the fabric. In the middle was a wooden divider that cut the room in half for when the tub was brought. The only furniture on the right side was an empty closet.
I sat on the large bed testing it out and was surprised at how comfortable it was for this time. It was the act of lying down that reminded me of the dragon egg I had in my bag. Since I was alone for the meantime I took it out inspecting it up close to see its colour. Beautiful was all I could think of as I saw it in the light at last, that and its warmth. The outer layer of the egg was formed into scales very similar to a dragon yet felt like stone. Each scale had the gleam of an amethyst and I hoped my own eyes resembled their beauty as the mirrors I had seen so far weren't so great. It felt as if we were meant for eachother, at least to me, who knows if the creature that came out would like what it saw. I turned it around wanting to see the other and saw a blood stain on the other side, properly my blood when I hit my head on it. Using my finger I tried rubbing it off, even spitting on didn't help. The only reason for it had to be my blood or the magic in it had marked the egg.
I'll have to see if it affected the dragon in some way when it came out so I decided to hide it under the bed. Tomorrow or later I'll take it to the dragonmont or the dragonkeepers if I feel the urgency to do so. Although a gut feeling told me to keep it close until it hatched. Suddenly the door opened and in came two servants with a tub. They left soon after for buckets to fill it and I was surprised to see steam come out of them. Heated water, not once had little finger granted me the privilege. I waited anxiously for them to call me and jumped from the bed when they did. However the warm water burnt against the unhealed skin of my body and I begged them to hurry up but they ignored my pleas as I needed to be fit to see the Queen.
After the torture of the bath they helped clothe my naked body, it was normal for me to have people see my body. Petry Baelish had often ordered his girls to check my body for birth defects or if I had harmed myself. They left quickly afterwards and by the look on their faces it must have been due to the burnt skin that peeled off after the bath. Even I cringed seeing it. It didn't take long for the maester to arrive yet he only gave me a jar of cream for me to rub over my body and left.
Needless to say I emptied the whole jar making sure that every inch of skin had a layer of it. By now it was most likely midday but the lack of sleep and used up muscle made me hear the calling of the king sized bed. The last thing I remember was falling on it not bothering to even cover myself in the sheets. A bang on the door woke me up, "The Queen's council has summoned you."