King Of Beasts

"I should have never granted Ser Jaime leave." Daenerys frowned deeply, a sad slight crossing her purple eyes. "His death... was the fault of my poor judgement."

She remained in her council chambers after a meeting, accompanied only by Ser Oswell, Ser Robert and Margaery Tyrell.

"For a Kingsguard, there is no death more honourable than the one for his King's betterment." Ser Oswell replied, shaking his head slightly. "The Ser Jaime that I grew to know valued his life... but he valued the lives of others just as much, if not more. That witch... if she had truly regained her will and been set free, she would have lit the world afire. To regret sending him away is to throw countless innocent men, women, and children to their own deaths."

"He died completing his duty as the Knight of the Realm." Ser Oswell sniffled. "Damn him, still. He... still had so much to live for."

"The brightest flames tend to rage half as long." Margaery Tyrell remarked. "I've known no finer knight than Ser Jaime in all of the Realm. No matter how much he denied having surpassed Ser Arthur... he had most certainly done so with his final act. He was a true knight, the very best of his time, and he should be honoured as such."

"... Thank you for your words, Ser Oswell and Queen Margaery." Daenerys nodded, taking a deeper breath. "For all his heroic acts, from beginning to end, he should be properly buried and mourned by all of the Realm. But... the right to honour his death is Aerion's alone."

"Ser Jaime would have wished it so." Ser Oswell nodded.

"Have you all forgotten who Aerion is?" Robert Baratheon finally spoke, opening his emerald eyes. "Our golden Lord Commander will walk again. Mayhaps with a less often pleased wife... but he will walk."

"True enough, Ser Robert." Ser Oswell smiled. "Our Emperor is not so easily denied."

"Aerion has not been seen for over half a year." Daenerys reaffirmed, sighing. "For now, we should assume the worst. Slaver's Bay is without a ruler and will soon fall into disarray... after all, it was Helia's iron fist that held it all together. I will have to leave for Slaver's Bay and bring stability to the region myself. As for Volantis, Queen Margaery..."

"You wish for me to rule Volantis in your place?"

Daenerys nodded. "Quite right-"

"... ROAAAAR!!!"

Suddenly, a thunderous draconic roar resounded across all of Volantis as a black shadow soared through its skies.

Daenerys' eyes widened in surprise.

"That roar..."

~

After Visenya became a vampire, Aerion took it upon himself to better understand the process of turning others into vampires and the consequences that may afflict them. He turned several of his servants in Harrenhal by injecting his magic-fuelled blood into their systems and... observed. At first, he was unsuccessful as the first set of vampires either died from the turning process or turned into unrestrained beasts. In the end, Aerion had to put them down and tried again. In his later attempts, he steadily lessened the amount of blood he'd provide to find the right balance.

He then discovered that his vampires were all uncomfortable under the sun and could not survive past six minutes before turning to ash. Visenya, however, could stay under the sun for prolonged periods lasting hours but she would become growingly groggy. As Bellona had concluded, Targaryen blood did compensate for this consequence greatly.

"Six minutes... that is rather impressive, you should know. Normal vampires can't go past half that. I suppose them being turned by you has some benefits." Bellona remarked.

"Can that weakness be conquered?"

"If the vampire in question 'evolves', yes."

"And how does a vampire evolve, exactly?"

"Growing formidable in the ways of magic is the main method. This is mostly done by continuously feasting on others for countless years... those capable of magic especially."

"I see... so would my blood suffice?"

"I believe it would... but, as you know, too much of it can result in most unappealing results."

Aerion nodded, smiling slightly. "Speaking of blood, you still haven't given me this week's share."

"You've grown eerily comfortable with your new way of life," Bellona remarked. "Perhaps, you never intend to become 'normal' again?"

"Perhaps."

"Your ambition truly knows no end. Very well... here-"

Bellona offered her hand but Aerion went straight for the neck, his fangs tearing inside while he sucked in a mouthful of blood. She did not push him away, patting the back of his head instead.

"My, you are quite violent today... but be careful not to burst yourself."

After he had his fill, Aerion withdrew and wiped his mouth. The 'wound' that he had made vanished immediately after.

'Does she even feel pain?'

"What is there to be distressed about? I'd let you place your fangs wherever you wanted..." Bellona's gaze narrowed as her finger touched his chest, making a circle.

Aerion raised an eyebrow. "... If that is not a jest, I would not be surprised. Anyway, I'll forgive that one time you presumed to tamper with my drink if you do something for me."

"Come, now. You enjoyed yourself and found a new wife from the experience-"

"My point still stands." Aerion frowned.

"... Very well. I will contribute to your ring's gathering of magic. That... is what you want me to do, right?"

"The faster it is ready the better."

"Anything for my lovely master~."

Bellona planted a kiss on his cheek before walking away, leaving Aerion with a conflicted expression.

'That odd witch...'

He wiped the remains of her kiss with his sleeve.

"Come, if you wish to see what I am capable of."

~

A massive yet agile three-headed black dragon descended onto the wide Black Walls of Old Volantis, followed by over a hundred emerald-eyed wyverns. There were thousands of unique birds following suit too, ranging from crows, ravens, parrots to eagles. Vermithor observed the surroundings with all three of its heads, its emerald glare shaking even the undead Soul Knights.

Vermithor narrowed its emerald glare, looking down on the undead.

After a long stare, it raised its heads to the sky and roared once more.

"ROAAAAAAAAAR!"

Its beckoning, tyrannical roar, forced all of the Soul Knights in the vicinity onto their knees. All the while, the people of Volantis were awfully terrified of the horde of beasts in the sky. Some began to think that it was the end of the world... and rightfully so.

Before long, Daenerys Targaryen and her entourage had made their way to the Black Walls, observing Aerion's majestic yet equally dreadful dragon. Despite knowing the dragon since it was small... even she felt the need to be cautious around it. Slowly, she treaded forwards and stretched out her hand, reaching for its middle head.

Vermithor opened its jaws, revealing a small spark of emerald flames.

"..."

Daenerys stepped back but the dragon closed its jaws and pushed its head outwards towards her. She gently caressed its head, leading to the dragon temporarily closing its eyes.

"Still the jester." Daenerys Targaryen smiled, realising that the dragon never meant harm in the first place. "Do you know... where Aerion is?"

Vermithor shook its heads.

"Help me restore order... and bring a resurgence to father's will."

Daenerys' eyes widened in shock as she thought she heard someone speak. She turned around and noticed that no one else seemed to hear anything.

'Was I imagining it?'

"I will be father's sword... but you must be his voice, Daenerys Targaryen. That is the only way."

The beasts in the skies spread in separate directions, most of which went east. Vermithor lowered its middle head, gesturing for Daenerys Targaryen to act.

"Soon... Vermithor."

Having been surprised by the dragon's appearance, she hadn't quite yet made the preparations for a voyage outside of Volantis.

Vermithor nodded in an understanding manner, flying away.

~

In the following days, most of the world had been flooded in blood sacrifices. Throughout, Aerion had realised just how terrifying Bellona could be. Just with a single drop of blood in the air, she could use it to corrupt and possess an entire city within an hour. The blood 'disease' would rapidly spread through animals, humans, the air and water. She was also capable of simply drawing out the blood of every living thing within a hundred leagues. Although that method was much swifter, it required far more magic vitality.

While Bellona had been aiding in gathering magic vitality, Aerion collected prized artefacts such as Valyrian steel blades. Within a short period of time, his ring rapidly rose to be half-full and even a good bit past that.

...

Sunspear.

One warm evening, Aerion returned to the sight of Jocelyn sparring with Visenya. The clash between a warhammer and sword... that sight was reminiscent of one of Aerion's dreams. Except it was not his father holding the sword, nor was Robert the one wielding the warhammer.

Clang... clang... clang.

There was a strange sense of tension, so Aerion had observed. It seemed that they were fighting for something during this so-called friendly spar. Meanwhile, Rhae flew over to his hand.

"Dragons do not share. Dragons do not share."

Aerion glanced at the parrot, chuckling. "Share what?"

"Meat. Meat."

"Hahaha..." Aerion laughed, reaffirming his suspicion of what the parrot was hinting at. "Quite right, Rhae."

Once Jocelyn Baratheon glanced to the side and saw Aerion watching, a golden aura surrounded her body. She began to overwhelm Visenya Targaryen despite her vampiric advantages, eventually tossing her blade to the side with a precise strike.

"It seems that I've won." Jocelyn grinned.

"With the use of magic... it seems you have," A rather breathless Visenya replied, walking over to grab Dark Sister once more.

"To be fair, I was keeping up with you the whole time before." Jocelyn countered.

"How long have you been fighting?" Aerion wondered, seeing as they both seemed quite tired.

"Long enough." Visenya Targaryen regained her composure after several deep breaths, turning to Aerion. After having become a vampire, she did look like she was in her early twenties while also retaining her mature womanly charm. "... Now that you're here, we can continue."

She sheathed Dark Sister as she approached Aerion. In regards to what she wanted to continue... well, her purple eyes said it all. Aerion knew those eyes too well.

"Hey... you can't just walk off with Aerion like that. Last I recall, you only married Aerion recently and that means I have more authority regarding these matters."

"You can go after if you wish." Visenya glanced back at Jocelyn briefly before turning to Aerion.

"Why don't we all share the same bed?" Aerion grinned slightly as he shrugged. "You don't even have to touch each other, you know. I'd gladly be in the middle."

"I would not mind," Jocelyn added. "You might even like i-"

"No."

Visenya Targaryen walked past, leaving no room for argument, while Aerion shrugged at Jocelyn.

"She is rather headstrong," Jocelyn remarked. "You can't expect everyone to have the same tastes, I suppose."

"Is that anything new?" Aerion smiled. "She was always like this."

~

After countless 'battles', Aerion and Visenya stopped to catch their breath. While Visenya was initially distant, Aerion pulled her in for a warm cuddle and rested his head on her chest. She laid still for a moment before her gaze narrowed and she stroked his silver hair.

"That feels wonderful." Aerion closed his eyes, enjoying Visenya's embrace.

"You can be so childish." Visenya smiled.

"Aegon was not one for cuddles?"

"Not at all."

"He was missing out."

"Your hair is growing quite long... when was the last time you cut it?" Visenya wondered as she observed.

"I never cared to, as of recent..."

"It's longer than mine."

"Did you know that men grow hair faster?" Aerion replied. "It's only that we tend to cut it far more often that it's shorter. But... you're right. It is starting to get in the way of things. Why don't you cut it for me on the morrow?"

"Rhaenys would be a more suitable candidate for such a task."

"But you'd cut it with more care and love, wouldn't you?" Aerion smiled.

"Are you sure? I might just cut the excess hair with one slash from Dark Sister."

Aerion chuckled. "Make sure not to cut my neck off if you do that."

"I won't make any promises."

Aerion withdrew from her chest and laid down, facing the ceiling. In response, Visenya rested her head on his chest. The necklace Aerion wore caught her interest... and she brought it closer, observing the black horned red dragon.

"Was it Jocelyn who gifted you this?"

"Yes, it was."

"I find it strange that this piece is the only jewellery you ever wore until you found that ring. For someone so rich and lucrative... one would expect you to wear more."

"Oh, I have plenty of jewellery stashed away. It's just that... this necklace means more to me than the rest combined."

"That is rather sweet," Visenya remarked. "If I brought you something, would you wear it the same?"

"Well... of course. As long as it did not conflict, I'd have no reason to object to a gift from my lovely Visenya. That said... I ought to get you something too. After all, you are my queen."

"Hmm... I believe another ring would suit you well. As for what you would gift me..."

"Every queen needs a crown." Aerion smiled, stroking her silver-blonde head of hair. "And not the one Aegon gave you... it would be a crown from me."

"It would be rather fitting." Visenya smiled.

"It's settled, then." Aerion nodded, deciding to change the subject after a moment of silence. "I have so many things to thank you for, you don't even know. For one, the Kingsguard would have never existed if it weren't for Visenya Targaryen."

"Right, you told me that story before..."

"Yeah, you cut Aegon's cheek to prove that his guards were slow and lazy."

"I wasn't wrong, was I?"

Aerion nodded. "The Lord Commander of my Kingsguard, Ser Jaime would've carved them all up with his left hand while taking a piss with his right."

"Hahaha..." Visenya laughed. "Although it sounds like a jest, I would not doubt it. Well, when the time comes... do you have any positions in mind for me?"

"You are a capable queen, that much is clear to me." Aerion acknowledged. "But you don't need to burden yourself with such responsibilities quite so soon…"

"I will not sit idly doing nothing as you burden yourself with the rule of the vastest empire to date. I am your queen... as you said." Visenya insisted, frowning slightly. "If you truly acknowledge my abilities, then you will honour me with a fitting station."

'I suppose that's what I love about her.' Aerion chuckled. "What about Valyria? You can oversee the development of the surrounding settlements as well, if you so wish."

Visenya nodded. "That is sound to me."

"Then I will make it so."