Chapter 26: Dreamer

Viserys placed a reassuring hand on his daughter's shoulder, whispering softly, "There's no need to rush, my dear. You have a long journey ahead, and in time, you'll learn the ways of leadership and governance."

"I'm truly sorry, Father," Rhaenyra murmured, her eyes welling with tears as she felt the depth of her father's love, willingly embracing him.

"It's alright. A father's duty is to ease the burdens and pave a path of ease for his child," Viserys comforted her tenderly, gently running his fingers through her hair.

Rhaenyra's guilt deepened at his words, and she nestled closer to him.

"Well, don't let Rhaegar catch you looking so sentimental," Viserys teased lightly.

"Hmph, he wouldn't dare," Rhaenyra retorted, breaking away from her father's embrace with a stubborn huff.

"What's gotten into you?" she added, shooting a pointed glare at Rhaegar.

Meanwhile, Rhaegar remained speechless, feeling awkwardly out of place amidst the sudden emotional exchange.

Here they were, having a pleasant conversation, and suddenly emotions were running high between the two of them. It left him feeling awkward, embarrassed to be the only one standing on the sidelines!

What more could they possibly expect from him?

Feeling the tension, Viserys pulled Rhaegar into a hug, offering a gentle reminder, "Don't tease your brother, he surpasses you in certain areas."

Rhaenyra stubbornly averted her gaze, remaining noncommittal.

"Tell your sister what you've gleaned from this experience," Viserys chuckled, turning to Rhaegar.

"Are you sure?" Rhaegar hesitated, casting a tentative glance at his sister.

"Absolutely. Exceptional insights should never go unshared," Viserys reassured him.

With a nod, Rhaegar began slowly, "In a dream, I once heard a phrase: 'Killing with a borrowed knife.'"

"Killing with a borrowed knife?" Viserys echoed, taken aback by the unfamiliarity of the phrase.

A moment of silence stretched before Viserys's smile faded, conceding, "Indeed, it's 'killing with a borrowed knife.'"

"A profound saying, encapsulating great wisdom," he added solemnly.

"And there you have it, can you appreciate your brother's wisdom?" Viserys turned to Rhaenyra.

"All men have their dreams; Rhaegar's are just a bit more peculiar," Rhaenyra replied, her pride preventing her from conceding any hint of inferiority.

"No, Rhaegar's dreams are far from ordinary. Remember Daenys the Dreamer?" Viserys's tone turned serious.

"Daenys Targaryen, the young girl known to the world as the Dreamer, relied on a dream prophecy to save the Targaryen lineage," Rhaenyra interjected, recalling the historical context.

Viserys tenderly stroked Rhaegar's forehead, his voice softening. "I paid little attention to your dreams until the past six months, when Erryk informed me of your frequent nightmares."

"That could be the mark of a Dreamer, in my estimation."

"Perhaps, but I find it unsettling, and the nightmares torment me," Rhaegar confessed softly, not denying the truth of it.

"Rhaegar, you must heed my words," Viserys's demeanor grew unusually grave. "Our family has produced many Dragonlords, but few Dreamers."

"What is the power of dragon intimidation compared to the gift of prophecy?" he continued. "Your dreams, whether beautiful or nightmarish, may hold valuable warnings. Embrace them and interpret them wisely."

Rhaegar leaned into Viserys's embrace, sensing his father's excitement, barely contained despite his trembling.

"When your sister was young, I had a dream that has remained etched in my mind, never to be forgotten," Viserys confessed, tears welling in his eyes as he lifted his head to meet Rhaegar's gaze.

"I pursued that dream with all my heart, paying a terrible price for it, yet it has yielded naught," he continued, his voice heavy with emotion.

Taking a deep breath, Viserys composed himself. "Now, with you possessing the health and talent I once dreamed of, I should find contentment."

"Rhaegar, remember my words. Do not squander your gift; do not view it as a burden," he urged earnestly.

Moved by his father's vulnerability, Rhaegar remained silent, reaching up to gently wipe away his tears.

"I will, Father," Rhaegar affirmed silently in his heart.

With the weight of their discussion weighing heavily upon him, Viserys realized his emotions were getting the better of him and decided to end the conversation.

Preferring solitude, he instructed his children to retire to their rooms and rest.

...

The siblings strolled aimlessly down the lengthy corridor, emerging from their father's study.

"Are your dreams truly prophetic?" Rhaenyra suddenly inquired.

"Mostly, they're fragmented bits of information that are difficult for me to decipher," Rhaegar responded honestly.

"Fair enough. So, what have you been dreaming about?" Rhaenyra halted, bending down to meet Rhaegar's gaze.

Rhaegar, uncharacteristically aloof, recalled the events of the previous night, a flicker of insight crossing his mind.

"I had a rather unsettling dream last night. It jolted me awake," he remarked, feigning mystery.

"Tell me about it!" Rhaenyra's curiosity was piqued.

Suppressing an eyeroll, Rhaegar continued, "I dreamt of an invisible and intangible dragon, claiming it wanted me as its rider."

"How could you know it was a dragon if it was unseen and unheard?" Rhaenyra interjected, her confusion evident.

"I could sense its presence, hear its growls," Rhaegar retorted. "And please, refrain from interrupting."

"Fine, fine. Continue," Rhaenyra acquiesced impatiently.

Rhaegar fabricated further, "The dragon informed me it couldn't meet me yet, as there's an entity in King's Landing that disgusts it."

"And what might that be?" Rhaenyra queried without hesitation.

"The Dragon's Pit," Rhaegar declared, straightening his posture.

"But the Dragon's Pit has stood for years, hosting countless dragons, including my Syrax," Rhaenyra remarked, uncertain upon hearing the revelation.

Rhaegar elaborated on his fabrication, "The dragon insisted it belongs in the open skies and wilds, deeming the Dragon's Pit too confining for its growth."

"It also expressed disdain for being confined and enslaved, shackled like a common slave," he added, weaving the tale further.

"Is that truly what the dragon conveyed to you? You're not fabricating this, are you?" Rhaenyra scrutinized Rhaegar with a dubious gaze.

"That's exactly how it unfolded in the dream, whether you choose to believe it or not," Rhaegar retorted, his tone firm.

"I'll inform Father; I doubt he'll question the validity of my dream," he added with a soft grunt, extricating himself from Rhaenyra's skeptical grasp.

"That may be so, but since the construction of the Dragon's Pit, the maesters have been vigilant in their oversight, and nothing untoward has occurred," Rhaenyra countered, offering a practical perspective.

"And how can you be certain there are no nefarious individuals among the Maesters?" Rhaegar speculated, his thoughts drifting to the Maesters of Oldtown.

He had harbored a distrust of the maester order from the outset, their chained collars a symbol of suspicion in his eyes.

"Perhaps you're correct. Father did emphasize the importance of trusting our dreams," Rhaenyra conceded, encouraging her brother to value his visions.

The gift of prophecy was an ancient heritage, and any Targaryen endowed with it held a position of authority not to be disregarded.

Preferring not to disillusion her brother, Rhaenyra opted to end the debate.

The siblings exchanged further conversation before parting ways to their respective chambers.

...

With the door to his room looming ahead, Rhaegar walked with his head bowed, lost in thought about his abilities as a Dreamer.

As he approached, a message flashed on the system panel.

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Skills: Dreamer (Gold), Longevity (Green)

Bloodline: Old Valyrian Dragon King (12%)

Skills: Old Valyrian Language (Proficient)...

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

Evaluation: "Possessing a robust Dragonlord bloodline, comparable to those of the Valyrian Freehold era."

(Word count: 1242)