Chapter 2: The Golden Dragon

(270 AC)

Half a year after the birth of the second son of the King, an event occurred that once again changed the fate of House Targaryen. In the cradle, next to the peacefully sleeping infant, lay a dragon egg. Suddenly, a soft sound, reminiscent of claw scraping, came from the egg, followed by a sharp squeal that didn't yet resemble the threatening roar of a dragon. The egg cracked, and a golden dragon head emerged.

Awakened by the noise, Aeryon could only see the golden dragonet eating its shell. It seemed that the newborn, fragile and defenseless, should have been afraid of this strange creature. But the young prince merely tilted his head curiously, as if trying to understand what was happening.

The dragonet, in turn, gazed into Aeryon's violet eyes with its golden ones. At the moment of eye contact, both infants felt a bond that united them. Little Aeryon reached out his hand to the new but familiar creature, and in response, the dragonet lowered its head. At that moment of connection, the prince and his companion became inseparable. The entering maids screamed in fear and astonishment, quickly calling everyone they could.

When the King, Queen, and the heir arrived in the prince's chambers, they were astonished to see their boy laughing and enjoying himself, trying to grab the little wing of the golden beast, which, despite its displeasure, tried to move as carefully as possible, not harming its new friend.

Seeing this scene, Aerys couldn't help but note, "He seems bigger than Balerion."

Hearing his father's words, Rhaegar only frowned. His Balerion had grown to 4.5 meters by this time. The prince often wished to mount his partner and soar above the ground. Unfortunately, that was still a long way off. Observing his younger brother's joy and recalling his own first interactions with Balerion, he was genuinely happy for Aeryon.

"I hope this isn't dangerous," Rhaella said with some concern, as Rhaegar was already five years old when his dragon appeared, while her younger son was still a mere infant.

"Don't worry, Mother. A dragon will never harm the one it has bonded with," Rhaegar assured her. His gaze shifted to his husband, and she froze, seeing a mixture of joy, fear, and some unhealthy obsession in his eyes. She had recently tried to explain to her husband that any achievements of his children were also his achievements, but apparently, that conversation had not had the desired effect.

"Well, we must return to our affairs and prepare for the new feast," Aerys said, and then left the prince's chambers.

(270 AC)

Years passed, and the dragon grew alongside Aeryon. Its golden scales became even brighter, and its size more impressive. From their first interaction until now, they had been inseparable. The dragon became a faithful friend and protector to the boy. He played with him, taught him to crawl, and even allowed Aeryon to sleep on his warm body.

Unfortunately, soon the dragons reached sizes that made it impossible for them to remain in the castle. By the age of four, these creatures reached 15 meters in length, and while there were no particular problems with Balerion, Solarex, as Aeryon named his dragon, was excessively aggressive toward everyone except his partner.

Not so long ago, this nearly led to a tragedy. Aeryon, a six-year-old boy constantly seeking attention and affection, especially from his older brother, found that Rhaegar was often occupied with training, exploring the world, and absorbing all available knowledge. How could Rhaegar, in such a pace, afford to be distracted by something as trivial as a child's whims?

Unfortunately, such a relationship was detrimental to the brothers. Day by day, Aeryon saw how everyone around seemed to prefer Rhaegar. They spoke of his talents, warm nature, handsome appearance, and thanked the Seven for such an ideal heir. Naturally, this gradually began to irritate the younger brother, who instead of seeking Rhaegar's approval as before, started competing with him in everything.

When the Sword of the Morning began to teach the heir to wield a sword and spear, Aeryon realized that he couldn't fall behind his brother and wanted to start rigorous training despite his very young age. Day after day, he pestered his parents with this obsessive idea, but they, of course, refused him. Only when the King promised that after his eighth nameday, the legendary Barristan Selmy would take over his training, did Aeryon calm down—or rather, pretended to. The boy began training on his own when no one was watching, driven by a fierce desire to surpass his brother.

This situation troubled Rhaella the most. Like any mother, she worried about the well-being of her sons and the increasingly unhinged and angry husband. Aerys had become even more unpredictable and cruel. His headaches had intensified, and this couldn't help but affect his behavior.

Rhaella saw how Aeryon increasingly distanced himself from Rhaegar, preferring the company of his dragon. This recently led to a logical conclusion. When the Targaryen brothers argued once again during a visit to the dragons, Rhaegar, angered by his younger brother's pestering behavior, decided to demonstrate his newly acquired combat skills. Delighted Aeryon, thinking he wasn't falling behind his brother, bravely engaged in the fight.

Of course, after a few mocking dodges, Rhaegar easily threw the second prince to the ground and watched with a triumphant smile as Aeryon tried to get up. It might have ended harmlessly if not for Solarex, who perceived the heir's actions as a threat to his partner. Only Balerion's quick reaction saved the older brother from a terrible death in dragonfire.

And so, moments later, the fight between the two boys turned into a battle of deadly beasts, and only the quickly arriving guards, who managed to separate the children, prevented the situation from becoming truly dire. The guards, in turn, struggled but managed to calm the dragons.

After Rhaella heard all this, she nearly lost her senses from fear. Her precious boys could have been harmed, and all because of what? A childish dispute. The King, on the other hand, seemed almost pleased to hear the reports. Seeing that Aerys could only worsen the situation with his cruel words, the Queen became seriously concerned about the future of her sons and House Targaryen.

"Aerys, you must end this madness!" she pleaded with her husband that evening. "Your cruelty is destroying our family!"

"Be silent, woman!" the King roared, striking his wife with the back of his hand. "I am the King, and no one dares tell me what to do. Dragons are our strength, and we must use them."

These words only deepened Rhaella's anxiety. She saw how envy and hatred slowly poisoned her sons' souls and feared that it might one day lead to catastrophe. In her room, clutching a pillow to her chest, she prayed for peace and harmony in their home, knowing that the years ahead would be difficult.

At the same time, in another part of the castle, another fateful conversation took place. Aeryon, wandering through the castle, approached one of his favorite quiet balconies, which offered a breathtaking view. The night draped the city like a soft velvet cloak, and lights began to glow everywhere. In the darkness, the city seemed even more alive and mysterious. Below, as if in the palm of his hand, stretched the wealthy district. Broad streets paved with light-colored stone were lit by torches and lanterns, casting a warm, flickering light on the elegant houses.

To the southeast of the city, Flea Bottom could be seen. Life thrived here even at night: loud conversations, laughter, and the sounds of music came from open windows and tavern doors.

The prince's eyes reflected his anxiety, doubts, and a hint of resentment. He thought about the past day and couldn't understand how things had come to this. In truth, he didn't feel guilty at all.

These thoughts were interrupted by a measured voice coming from behind him:

"Your Highness, I thought you were supposed to be in your chambers."

Turning his head, Aeryon found Varys, the man he often saw with his father.

"Ah, it's you. And are you going to report to the King?" the boy asked with a hint of mockery.

"Well, why not? I think a person like you needs some freedom now and then. We can keep it our little secret."

"Sometimes giving freedom? — the prince echoed the spider. — Like a dog?! I'm a Targaryen, don't forget, servant."

"Not at all, my prince. I remember perfectly who you are, and I understand why you are here."

"Is that so? Then perhaps you will enlighten me about your thoughts."

"Of course. I see that envy towards your brother has settled in your heart. But you must understand that the Seven have chosen not only Rhaegar for great deeds but also you."

Aeryon looked at Varys in surprise.

"Me? Then why is all the attention always on him! He is older, more talented, and, besides, the heir," the prince said, growing agitated again, as if repeating someone else's words. But the experienced Varys quickly calmed him down.

"Precisely because you are younger, your destiny could be even more significant," Varys continued. "By giving you this trial, the Seven have placed great hopes upon you. You are not just the second prince; you are a chosen one. Your dragon, Solarex, is not powerful and fierce by mere chance. Aeryon, you might be the one who changes the fate of your house and all of Westeros."

Varys's words struck a deep chord within the young prince. Aeryon pondered his role and what he was destined to become in the future. The boy became so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice how the master of whispers smiled and melted into the shadows of the castle.