Trip to Dragonstone

Blackwater's Bay

Viserys Targaryen POV

As we glided over Blackwater Bay, I searched for the ships bearing House Velaryon's sails, for we needed to notify Lord Corlys to return. Daemon and I periodically scanned the waters below for any sign of them. Minutes later, the silhouettes of ships became visible, and as Caraxes approached near them, I could discern the Velaryon sails fluttering atop the vessels. I tapped Daemon on the shoulder and signaled for him to guide Caraxes to land nearby.

Daemon nodded and guided Caraxes towards the ships, circling them once to announce our presence. He then steered Caraxes towards the vessel where Lord Corlys stood. As we were about to land, I noticed weapons drawn and archers aiming at Caraxes. Landing at the front of the ship, Caraxes tried to stabilize himself with his serpentine body, growing agitated with the ship's constant rocking. Daemon did his utmost, issuing commands and the occasional crack of his whip.

I made sure to disembark first, knowing that if Daemon were to land before me, his biting remarks would only worsen the situation. As I set foot on the ship's deck, the drawn weapons were sheathed and the archers relaxed their bows. They all bowed to acknowledge their king; I paid them no heed and proceeded towards Lord Corlys. After years on the throne, such salutations become customary.

"Lord Corlys," I greeted him, managing only a forced smile, unable to summon a genuine one in the face of the threat looming over my house.

"Your Grace, pardon me, but what is the matter? I have not seen you ride the dragon since the Black Dread's ultimate demise." Corlys greeted me with a short bow that showed respect for my position, yet he did not bow deeply to display subservience, as many in the court often do.

"The matter is not one I can disclose here, Lord Corlys. I wish for you to return to King's Landing, as I have already tasked Rhaenyra with sending word to Rhaenys to come to the capital with Laenor and Laena," I replied to Corlys. The counsel from Lord Drakonar remains vivid in my thoughts. Should the Dragonlord of Volantis have spies among us or the means to surveil us, then this information regarding the dragons should only be revealed in a safer location or in the presence of Lord Drakonar.

Corlys looked at me with a mix of confusion and curiosity. He nodded and directed his sailors to steer the ships back toward King's Landing, from whence they had come. "If my family is visiting to King's Landing, then there's little reason for me to journey to Driftmark. I will follow your command, Your Grace. May I ask, did you come here solely to instruct me to return to King's Landing?" Corlys inquired, his tone laced with curiosity as he watched Daemon and Caraxes take flight, preventing the ship from sinking under Caraxes' weight.

"No, although asking you to return was one of the tasks we aimed to accomplish on our journey, it is not our final destination. Daemon and I are bound for his seat at Dragonstone. And as for why? You will learn of that after we return to King's Landing," I replied to his inquiry without revealing much. Corlys nodded, and after a brief conversation, I signaled to Daemon that it was time to land on the ship, as my discussion with Corlys was complete.

Caraxes landed, causing the entire ship to rock violently. Just as I was about to crash face-first onto the deck, Corlys seized my hand, pulling me up and steadying us both by gripping the ship's side. I nodded my thanks to him and turned my attention to the Blood Wyrm, who was struggling to stabilize himself without harming the ship, while Daemon incessantly barked orders at him. I hurried towards them, aware that Caraxes' patience was wearing thin, and it is not good for us if he became angry as that would result in burning of the ships.

Assisted by Daemon, I mounted the saddle and bid a brief farewell to Lord Corlys. Caraxes ascended into the sky with a high-pitched, joyful shriek. We continued our journey towards Dragonstone, and I began to relish the ride, knowing it would be some time before we reached our destination.

*****

After a while, the roars of various dragons filled the skies. Caraxes responded with his own high-pitched roar, which seemed more like a greeting than anything else. Daemon guided Caraxes to fly lower so we could see who was there, and there they were: Rhaenys and her children, accompanied by their own dragons, were flying toward the direction from which we had come.

As we approached, Daemon guided Caraxes close to Meleys as a greeting to Rhaenys. I saw Rhaenys' eyes widen at the sight of me on Caraxes' saddle, and I sensed Daemon's amusement without even glancing his way. Rhaenys was so taken aback that she forgot to return Daemon's greeting. As we flew past them, the massive form of Vhagar loomed above us, a sight that brought a slight sense of ease to my heart. We must teach Laena to strengthen her bond with Vhagar and improve her Dragon-riding skills, as Vhagar are the ones closest to a Dragons in Volantis, more so than any in the Targaryen lair.

I'm reluctant to thrust a fifteen-year-old girl into war, but there's no method to break the bond between a Dragon and its rider. Nor would I wish to strip her of accomplishment of taming a conqueror's Dragon. Thus, the only option is to accompany her with someone experienced to prevent her from becoming a casualty, as Rhaenys would never forgive me if that were to occur.

Following our fleeting meeting with Rhaenys and her offspring, we soon arrived at Driftmark. After traversing the island of House Velaryon, it wasn't long before our destination was in sight, as Dragonstone and Driftmark are not far apart. In less than an hour, I could see the black mountains, a wisp of smoke rising from them, casting a somber aura over the island that we Targaryens call home. And Caraxes, sensing the proximity of his lair, let out a roar of joy and hastened his pace towards the familiar sight.

The Maester and the Master of Arms of Dragonstone, along with some of the Dragon Keepers, were already there to welcome me, Daemon, and Caraxes. I returned their greetings and inquired about the state of the keep. As the Maester was about to start his lengthy report, I instructed him to relay the information to Daemon instead, as he is my heir and in charge of Dragonstone. Daemon glanced at me with a healthy dose of anger and a hint of betrayal as the Maester approached my brother to remind him of his responsibilities.

I approached the Dragon-keepers as they led Caraxes to his den for feeding. After discussing my plans and specifying my needs for the endeavor, a mix of apprehension and awe was evident on their faces. The leader warned me of the risks, noting that no one had ever attempted such a feat before. I assured him that I was well aware of the potential dangers and was proceeding with them in mind.

After receiving what I had requested, I took my leave, informing Daemon of my departure. He wished me well, and though concern was evident in his eyes, he understood that House Targaryen needed the Bronze Fury with rider on his back for the impending threat.

Dragonstone

Third-person POV

The wind lashed at Viserys as he ascended towards the dragon's den, each stride laden with the gravity of impending events. The ascent proved strenuous, his physique isn't what it was after continuous feasting, yet it was not the physical exertion that perturbed him—it was the imminent confrontation with Vermithor, the Bronze Fury. His thoughts were a whirlwind of recollections of Balerion, the Black Dread, and the poignant triumph of having subdued the mightiest dragon of his house, only to discover that Dragon's age had robbed him of the skies. Balerion had been the embodiment of his aspirations since youth, but now, compelled by necessity and the menace posed by the Dragonlord family from Volantis, Viserys braced himself for a fresh ordeal.

Before Viserys stood the entrance to Vermithor's cavern, a vast expanse that could comfortably house two grand dragons. Inside, the Bronze Fury lay in repose beside Silverwing. Their gentle breathing resonated off the cavern walls, yet it was Vermithor, the larger and more temperamental of the two, that captured Viserys' gaze.

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