Chapter 49 - Green Eyes

Viserys reluctantly swallowed his sleeping pills at his family's insistent urging, then settled into bed to endure the discomfort.

As his breathing gradually calmed, Alicent gave the siblings a warm smile.

In a hushed tone, she advised, "It is getting late, my dears. You should both retire to your chambers and rest."

"Thank you, Her Majesty the Queen," Rhaenyra replied with a smile before she and Rhaegar left the cabin.

Walking down the corridor, the siblings engaged in casual conversation for a few minutes before parting ways and returning to their respective cabins.

...

In the soft glow of the candlelight, Rhaegar stripped and gazed at his reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirror.

The remnants of old skin had faded, leaving a delicate white surface where his burns once marred his skin, faintly revealing the extent of the pre-burn area.

"The recovery is remarkable, worthy of blood and fire," Rhaegar muttered to himself as he accessed the system panel.

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Talent: Dreamer (Gold), Longevity (Green)

Bloodline: Old Valyrian Dragonlord (14%)

Skills: Proficiency in the Old Valyrian language

Relic: Blood and Fire (Fire Resistance +50%)

Evaluation: "The bloodline has undergone further purification, suggesting the discovery of an extraordinary secret."

Rhaegar's gaze lingered on the Bloodline bar, noticing an increase from the original 12% purity to 14%. This was the change his wound had observed since he had shed his skin.

The two point increase in Bloodline purity could only be attributed to exposure to Dragon Flame.

Before Dreamfyre's attack, Rhaegar had encountered only a handful of dragons.

In reviewing the ancient tomes of House Belaerys, he found little mention of humans forming bonds with dragons.

"A dragon is not to be considered a mere tool, but a partner to its rider," the texts said. "The deeper the bond, the greater the power that can be unleashed."

Though mere conjecture from ages past, Rhaegar was swayed by these theories.

He reasoned that increased interaction with dragons could only bring positive results.

"With the sailing ship due at Dragonstone Island tomorrow, I will soon have the opportunity to claim a dragon as my own," he mused.

As fatigue set in, Rhaegar undressed and collapsed onto his bed, pulling the covers over him in preparation for the dragon-taming expedition ahead.

Soon sleep enveloped him, taking him to the realm of dreams.

The scene unfolded once more: the dusky sky, the tumultuous waves, the crackling thunderstorm.

This time Rhaegar stayed awake.

The icy rainwater lapped at his skin, each drop cascading down his body.

Above him, dark clouds swirled menacingly and the wind howled with fury.

"Roar!"

The angry roar of a distant dragon pierced the storm, accompanied by thunder that echoed through the sky and earth.

Rhaegar raised his head, ignoring the rain that pelted his face, and fixed his gaze on the turbulent sky above.

As thunder rumbled overhead, a colossal figure emerged from the dark clouds, silhouetted against the flickering lightning.

Having endured two harrowing nightmares, Rhaegar clenched his fists and fixed his gaze fiercely on the approaching shadow.

His resolute determination seemed to draw the shadow closer, its trajectory shifting to head straight for him.

Rhaegar raised his head defiantly, meeting the shadow's advance with unwavering resolve.

Swift as an arrow, the shadow came closer, until...

"Roar!"

With a resounding roar, the shadow lunged at him, revealing razor-sharp claws that gleamed like polished obsidian.

Deafened by the force of the impact, Rhaegar felt his consciousness slip from the dream realm.

In those fleeting moments, he saw a sight forever etched in his memory.

A pair of eyes.

Dark green, brimming with malice, cunning, and pride.

Deep as the abyss, those eyes locked on Rhaegar with a chilling intensity.

"Ahh!!!"

Startled awake, Rhaegar found himself muttering breathlessly, "Eyes... green eyes..."

The image of that shadow lingered in his mind - a colossal dragon.

Pitch black, with emerald green eyes!

A shiver ran down Rhaegar's spine as he relived the scene from his dream.

Was it fear, or perhaps something else that coursed through him?

His chest heaved, he gasped for air, a bead of sweat coating his brow.

It took several moments for him to regain his composure, the tremors slowly subsiding.

"Hand it over!"

"Now, quickly!"

Lost in thought, Rhaegar leaned back against the bed, his mind clouded by the distant sounds coming from the hallway outside his cabin.

"Who's there?"

With a furrowed brow, Rhaegar rose from the bed and began to dress, his curiosity piqued by the commotion outside.

Pushing open the hatch, he found the corridor deserted.

"Idiot, can't you understand a simple command..."

The familiar voice echoed once more, sparking Rhaegar's intrigue as it stirred a memory deep within him.

"To the left, in the corner."

Rhaegar followed the direction, his steps measured and deliberate.

When he reached the corner, he discovered the source of the disturbance - a pair of young children.

The older child, a robust boy about Rhaegar's age, stood beside his younger sister, who huddled in the corner with her hands clasped over her head.

They were Aegon and Helaena, his half-siblings, engaged in a sibling quarrel.

Aegon's scolding grew louder as he tugged at Helaena's silver curls, a classic display of an older sibling bullying his sister.

Rhaegar considered intervening, but hesitated, realizing that this was a family matter between Aegon and Helaena.

Though not his blood kin, their bond as siblings was undeniable, and it was not his place to interfere with their dynamic.

With a silent step back, Rhaegar chose to observe from a distance, respecting the boundaries of their sibling relationship.

As Rhaegar turned to leave, his intention to discuss Aegon's upbringing with Alicent faltered when he heard Aegon's threatening tone.

"Remove it or I'll snap your fingers."

Rhaegar's steps paused, torn between intervening and letting Alicent handle the situation.

Then Helaena's screams pierced the air, drawing Rhaegar's attention back.

Glancing back, he saw Aegon straddling Helaena, grabbing her arm and tormenting her by squeezing her fingers.

"If you refuse, I'll make you regret it every night."

Helaena shook her head defiantly, tears glistening in her eyes.

Rhaegar noticed that Helaena was wearing the bracelet he had given her.

With a subtle shift in his gaze, Rhaegar's expression darkened as he approached the scene.

Without a word, he silently stepped forward, causing Aegon to release his grip on Helaena's fingers, tugging at her bracelet instead.

"Do you want it?"

Rhaegar's voice echoed from behind him, startling Aegon as he turned to find Rhaegar standing ominously nearby.

Though unnerved by his sickly brother's presence, Aegon tried to maintain a facade of bravado.

"It's none of your business!" he retorted indignantly, though his bravado wavered under Rhaegar's unflinching gaze.

Watching Aegon's growing agitation, Rhaegar remained calm, his eyes betraying no emotion.

As Aegon's eyes darted between Rhaegar's bracelet and Helena's, a realization dawned on him.

Frustrated, he exclaimed, "How come you two have matching bracelets and I'm left with nothing!"

At the sound of his outburst, Helaena lifted her tear-streaked face, noticing Rhaegar's presence for the first time.

(Word Count: 1177)