Dragon

He was lounging back in the weirwood, eyes closed as he rested against the bark. He almost slept through last night, waking only once.  

This time he wasn't in the gardens to pray or ask for guidance.

He was leaving Kingslanding tomorrow, he came here, hopefully to encounter the Princess. He clenched his jaw, he wanted to at least let her know he was leaving. He couldn't help the feeling of embarrassment nor the nerves settling in his stomach. 

His fingers were gently tapping against his thigh as he breathed deeply, the cold air numbing.  He's already been here the last hour, the cold morning air getting to him.

His sheathed sword sat in his lap. He had been polishing the blade, not that he's even used it yet. 

He thought about his knighthood and the possibility of having a squire.. The thought unsettled him, especially the idea of teaching. Though having someone polish his armour and sword wasn't bad. 

He opened his eyes to see the green grass swaying in the breeze, the gardens really were beautiful. Bees and butterflies flew around the bushes of beautiful foreign flowers, the sound of the castle seemed to be quashed by peaceful silence. 

Would he miss this, the gardens? He would most certainly miss the tourney, the adrenaline of the fights, and the thrill they brought.

The clinking of armour sent his thoughts crashing, his eyes snapping to the source of the sound. 

Princess Rhaenyra glided through the garden. A light pink dress almost shimmered as she moved, her silver rings sparkled in the sunlight.

She didn't look surprised as her lilac eyes met his own. For a moment silence fell between them, memories of their last encounter running through his head. 

"Princess" 

"Aerion" she acknowledged casually as she walked closer, a familiar book clenched in her hands. Settling among the roots, not far from him. That felt wrong, their last meeting still lingered in his mind. 

The tense atmosphere, his awkward speech and her silent grief all made for a very…bad conversation. 

"You still look tired" she said, taking him out of his thoughts with a shock. Aerions eyes met hers, taking a moment before speaking.

"I'm still struggling to sleep" he said tentatively, still feeling as if he was about to tread into a trap. 

"Dreams right?" She recalled as her fingers tapped against the hard leather of the book cover gently. A burgeon of surprise lit in Aerions chest at her words, he was surprised she remembered. 

"Yeah, they've been…been slowing down though" he said as his eyes flicked to the ground for a moment, his foot tapping gently against the ground. 

"I'm departing tomorrow" the words felt like they fell out of his mouth, a few silent seconds passed and he felt the nerves in his chest violently roil. 

"I almost forgot you would have to leave" she almost said to herself, a small upturn of her lips "I was getting rather used to these talks" 

"So was I" he admitted as he tilted his head to the side gently, running a hand through his hair. "I saw you, at the heirs ceremony" 

"I saw you too, atop the balconies" she said casually, Aerion blinking in surprise. "You were staring into thin air" she remarked, her brows furrowing.

His vision came back to him once more, the black dragon, its eyes a stunning lilac. He chuckled slightly, trying to make light of it.

"Ah, I remember that" he said slowly "I believe I was blinded by one of the many jewels in your headdress" he lied with a hint of amusement in his tone. 

She definitely didn't believe him as her eyes rested on his doubtfully though that didn't mask the slight upturning of her lips. 

"Truly?" She questioned dubiously, her eyebrows raising playfully as her eyes bored into him. 

"Truly" Aerion confirmed. 

"You're a horrible liar" she remarked, her finger running down the leather book cover slowly. Aerion felt the tension in his body slowly uncoiling. 

"I'm quite the good liar" he shot back, he had lied to her several times after all. 

"Have you lied to me?" She asked, her eyes narrowing the slightest amount. 

"Never" he lied. 

She shook her head, she didn't believe him, but Aerion couldn't help the small smile growing on his face as his body relaxed further into the roots. 

"I could have your tongue for lying to me." she remarked with a raised eyebrow. Aerion sighed in relief, as he shook his head gently.

"Good i've never done that then" he remarked, the amusement obvious in his tone. He heard her snort, a smirk pulling at her lips.

"You'd make a good court fool" she teased, her fingers tapping against the book. He felt himself grin at the words.

"I'll let my uncle know" he said as he shifted slightly "I'm sure he will be pleased" she hummed almost consideringly at his words. 

Aerions eyes flicked to the Princess, an idea, a risky but tantalising idea coming to his mind. His lips thinned as nerves settled in his stomach. 

"You said you're leaving tomorrow?" She asked, the question piercing his thoughts. 

"Yes" he responded questioningly, his eyes meeting hers.

His thoughts were still hovering over the risky question, did he ask? He didn't fully know the court nor its rules, but this felt like a faux pas.

Did he dare? His dreams of riding on dragonback seemed to invade his mind. The feeling of wind rushing through his hair and having the world beneath his feet replaying.

"When will you be back?" She asked, something indecipherable in her tone that caught Aerions attention. 

"I—I don't know" he replied, his thoughts rushing back to the memories, he felt…so tempted. "Maybe the next large tourney" 

"It'll be fun to watch you fight again" she said, a warm feeling fluttering in his chest. 

A moment of silence ran over the garden as he clenched his jaw, his foot tapping against the ground. 

"Princess" he hesitated "Can—I know—" he sighed, her attention clearly caught as she leaned across in slight interest. 

"What?" She asked curiously, and before Aerion could stop himself he spoke.

"Can I see your dragon?" He asked tactlessly, his heart beating quickly at the possibility. That caught her off guard, a flutter of surprise in her mind, a token of suspicion mixed in as well. 

"You want to see Syrax?" She asked, her eyes fixed on him. Aerion nodded, trying to express his genuine want.

He's dreamed about them, even seen them occasionally flying above the city. He's even, he thinks skinchanged into one.

But he's never seen one up close. 

"Meet me at the castle entrance tomorrow morning" she said eagerly, her suspicion fading away as excitement took its place. Alicent never wanted to get close to Syrax.

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50 powerstones and two 5 star reviews last night!! Thank you, also any ideas for the next Arc of the story?