31 Captured

Dragonstone, Miles of the Northern Coast of Paradis

Had Paradis been an island which many visited, the world would marvel at the sudden appearance of an island moons ago. However, due to its geopolitical status in the world none know of this new volcanic island along with Valyrian inhabitants who live within the draconian themed castle on the island; and as such none bear witness to the chaos that suddenly grips the island other than its inhabitants.

Rhaenys did not know when it began, only that Caraxes foul mood had been building for the past hours before suddenly erupting with a bloodthirsty shriek promising violence before the dragon took to the skies and spitting fire.

"What's wrong with the wyrm." asks Jaehaerys with a frown as he joins Rhaenys in looking up at the dragon.

"I don't know. He has been inconsolable for the past fifteen minutes and would snarl threateningly at the other dragons should they approach." Rhaenys replies as Caraxes dives dangerously close to them with an enraged shriek before burning the air above their heads, causing her and Jaehaerys to flinch.

"This cannot continue. At this rate Dragonstone will burn." Jaehaerys says before snarling "Where in the Seven Hells is Aemon?"

Before Rhaenys can answer, someone else does for her.

"He's not back yet?" asks Simon as he approaches Rhaenys and Jaehaerys, Aegon and Daenerys following close behind while looking at Caraxes with frowns on their faces.

"Simon." greets Jaehaerys with a slight nod.

"Jae." replies Simon with a nod of his own

"Jaehaerys." corrects Jaehaerys with a raised eyebrow.

"Right. Sorry, it's just a lot to say and I thought—" "—It does not matter.Where is is my brother." demands Rhaenys as she sharply interrupts Rhaenys.

"Uh, he went to help Percy with something. Didn't he tell you?" asks Simon while awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

His words cause Rhaenys to feel a slight ache in her heart

"No, he didn't." Aegon says while looking at his brother and sister questioningly.

"No." replies Jaehaerys with a frown and a downturned lip.

"How cavalier." Rhaenys says while attempting to hide her hurt.

Jaehaerys' concerned eyes and Aegon's frown tell her that her attempt was a poor one.

"Caraxes is not the problem." Daenerys says as she finally pulls her eyes away from the dragon. "Aemon may be hurt." she says, 'or worse' is left unsaid but they all think it.

"Right, how do you know that?" asks Simon.

"The bond between a Targaryen and their dragon is no trivial matter. Our mood can easily influence them." Jaehaerys explains as he folds his hands over Dark Sister before looking at Caraxes.

"For Caraxes to be so inconsolable… the experience must be traumatic." Jaehaerys says with a snarl.

"I have never seen a dragon react in such a manner, not even when—" Daenerys begins to say before quickly stopping when she seems to remember Simon's presence.

"Regardless of what he is experiencing, or who is responsible, there will be a reckoning." Jaehaerys says darkly, not even bothering to hide the bloodthirst in his eyes.

From within the dragonmont, Rhaenys swears she hears Winter, Jaehaerys' dragon, roar.

"As usual brother, you jump into action without thought of the consequences." says Aegon in High Valyrian with a shake of his head.

"And what, pray tell brother, do you suggest we do as one of our own suffers. Nothing?" asks Jaehaerys.

"I said no such thing. However, have you given thought to what dangers we could be facing once there? What sort of horror could Aemon be facing for Caraxes to reach in such a way? An entire dimension away?" Aegon replies.

"Why does it matter?" Jaehaerys asks as he approaches Aegon with a snarl "When has the severity of the threat ever given us pause? Whether the sorcerous Blackfyre, the monstrous legions of the Ghiscari, or even the seven damned Other; all have fallen before us. Despite their power and superior might, how many Others have I slain with none but Dark Sister in my hands and rage in my chest? Half a dozen? A dozen? Perhaps even more. And what of you? How many of their chests have you thrust your spear through?"

"A dozen or more. I had lost count." replies Aegon lamely, seemingly stupified by their brother's outburst.

Daenerys makes to intervene, but Rhaenys quickly grabs hold of her arm. This argument between them has been brewing for some moons now. Better now than when the negative emotions have festered.

"A dozen or more." Jaehaerys repeats, his voice barely above a whisper. "So why do you cower now, when our youngest has need of us? When you were King they named you 'The Conqueror Come Again', where is that man? For I do not recognise the man before me." Jaehaerys says, causing Rhaenys to suck in a cold breath.

"Look at you, The Conqueror Come Again now a mere merchant." Jaehaerys mocks as he flicks Aegon's flowing silk robe.

Jaehaerys' words seem to have targeted Aegon's insecurity for he raises himself up to his full height while glaring at Jaehaerys. Rhaenys easily recognises the action for what it is, Aegon's attempt to rally his Kingly presence against a formidable foe, an action he has not taken once since their return from the grave.

Unfortunately for Aegon the act is now merely a shell of what it once was. Jaehaerys is right, their brother is no longer the man he once was. Daenerys seems to notice this too, for she slowly steps away from the brothers.

"And what action of note have you taken brother, besides training green boys for a war that is not our own." challenges Aegon.

"At the very least I have kept my skills sharp, and so has Rhaenys. When last have you picked up your spear without our prompting?" Jaehaerys says, causing Rhaenys to frown. If they continue on this trajectory a conversation meant to clear the air will turn into a pissing match.

"Come to the yard and find out." Aegon says, causing Rhaenys to sigh while Daenerys mutters disappointedly under her breath.

"Enough." Rhaenys interrupts in the common tongue with a frown before Jaehaerys can accept Aegon's challenge. "You can measure your cocks later, when our little brother isn't suffering."

Staring into one another's eyes for a moment longer, Jaehaerys and Aegon slowly reign their emotions back in.

"Very well." Aegon says before turning to Simon.

"Teleport us to Perseus. We have a brother to save." Aegon demands, and for a brief moment Rhaenys sees the shadow of the King her brother once was stand before her.

"You do know that there are gods in that universe right?" Simon asks with uncertainty.

"Oh you sweet summer child, we Targaryens answer to neither gods nor men." Daenerys tells him as their dragons roar from the dragonmont.

…

…

…

Location Unknown

His body hurts like never before. Even worse than the pain however, is a feeling of powerlessness that pervades his body to the bone, and Aemon finds that, other than sensing and communicating through his bond with Ghost and Huginn, his magic is far out of his reach. For a brief moment, Aemon wonders if death would not be better than the pain. That thought is quickly discarded however as he blearily opens his eyes.

"Awake? Good, for there's no time to waste." says the voice of Koios as Aemon's vision clears and he takes note of his surroundings.

Aemon finds himself on a rocky mountain top near the growing ruins of a fort. Before him is a young child, no older than twelve namedays, dressed in gray parka holding up an ethereal multicolored pillar on her young shoulders.

No doubt the burden is a heaven one for the strain brings her to her knees while she silently regards Aemon with a tear filled eye.

"Mount Othrys." Aemon says to himself with a frown.

"How inquisitive of you." comments Koios.

With a snarl Aemon charges at the Titan, only to suddenly be yanked back to the ground. Frowning, he looks down at his arms to find them shackled to his legs and neck.

"Fun fact, I believe the modern term is, but these shackles which the Queen of the Gods had made for her husband do not take effect until their victim attempts to move. Then, and only then, will the sufferer notice their presence. It is how she was able to shackle her King long ago." says Koios matter of factly

"You fucking bastard!" screams Aemon, "You chained me!"

"You were not the intended target to be honest, that honor was originally reserved for my granddaughter." the Titan replies.

"I will blood eagle you and sacrifice your heart to a Heart Tree." Aemon snarls as he struggles against the shackles.

"You may try, but you will fail and simply waste ample energy. Energy that would be best served saving this poor huntress from her fate." Koios says while pointing to the child holding up the pillar of light.

Taking a closer look at the child, Aemon realizes that her parka is not gray but rather a worn and faded silver covered in blood. Her breathing is labored, her weight all placed on her right foot, her left eye is swollen shut, and blood runs down her forehead to her gritted teeth, staining them.

As her one good gray eye regards him, all Aemon can see in that moment is Arya's mutilated body and brutalized face.

Straining to his feet, Aemon shuffles his way to the child.

"It would be folly to acquiesce to the Titan's demand." says the Other from Aemon's mind.

"Aye? And what wise counsel do you offer me?" asks Aemon.

"Seeing her has elicited an emotional response from you. You see the sister you could not save in her stead and are acting irrationally. It is exactly what the Titan wishes to happen." argues the Other.

"It is." agrees Aemon with a grunt as he stumbles and falls to the ground.

Ignoring the Other and the protests of his body, Aemon reaches out to his most trusted companions and feels relief when he senses Ghost and Huginn near.

Through their bond he commands them to prepare to carry the child far from the mountain, and despite their disgruntled opinion on leaving him to the tender mercy of the Titan he knows that they will obey.

As he kneels before the child, Aemon gifts her with a reassuring smile and says "When I take the sky, relax and don't struggle."

Under the huntress' hopeful eye, Aemon places his palms on the cold pillar of light and braces himself before nodding to her.

With a sigh of relief she relinquishes the burden to Aemon.

With a grunt Aemon brings the pillar to his shoulders while trying to ignore the excruciating pain it brings upon. Without a second thought Aemon opens his link between him and companions as wide as he can, allowing them to draw power from him in preparation for the rescue.

Before Koios can react a raven's caw draws his attention to the sky while a white shadow bounds out of the ruins at incredible speeds and descends the mountain with the child in its grasp.

"That fucking wolf." snarls Koios as he watches Ghost and Huginn disappear from his sight. "If I ever catch it I will skin it and make a pelt out of it."

"Titan of foresight and farsight." mockingly says Aemon with a chuckle. "Is it any wonder that you lost the first Titanomachy?"

Turning towards the Titan, Aemon makes himself look smug despite feeling otherwise.

"Your eyes—" Koios says as he approaches Aemon with a frown "—they offend me."

Aemon is barely able to process the Titan's words before Koios' fingers wrap around his left eye and rips it out of the socket.

From the top of Mount Tamalpais, Aemon's scream can be heard far and wide in the distance.

Author's Note: I forgot to tell you guys that I won't update during the week of major holidays, sorry about that. Anyway, what do you guys think about the chapter and the story so far? I also have a patreon now if you want to support: patreon.com/servantambrosius