"You wish to have a dragon from the ones that are on this island?", Rhaenyra asked, to which Helaena nodded while I smirked as I saw Daemon narrow his eyes.
"I thought that dragons do not like being in your presence?"
"The ones of the Dragonpit do not like me, yes, but Father have not let me come to Dragonstone to try and bond with one of the dragons here."
"For good reason, sister. The dragons here...they're not ones that anyone can simply see let alone try to tame. Silverwing is the gentlest, yes, but even she carries memories of war and chaos."
"Vermithor on the other hand is a vicious dragon on par with Vhagar and used to be Balerion's shadow. Cannibal does not let man nor dragon escape its clutches and even feasts on its own kind.
Tell me, niece, do you believe yourself strong enough to face either?", Daemon asked and I didn't say anything as Helaena nodded.
"I hear their songs in my dreams, uncle. The songs of the hungry make me smile, the songs of the bronze make me feel happy and the songs of the silver entrance me."
"Songs."
"That is why the dragons at the Dragonpit did not like her. They were afraid of the songs that were already bonded to her," I decided to chime in, making the couple look at me as Helaena smiled and nodded.
"Yes, and I am also not the only one who has heard those songs."
"...You expect me to believe that a Stark, a countryman of the North, has heard these...songs of the dragons?", Daemon asked with a doubtful look, to which I simply nodded as Helaena turned her head to look out the windows.
"Forgive me for interrupting, but it appears I no longer need to approach the cave."
"What makes you say-", Rhaenyra was cut off by a hurried knock on the door and it opening, revealing Jacaerys walking in with a panicked look as his mother and stepfather narrowed their eyes at him.
"Jacaerys?"
"M-Mother, I...I came as fast as I could. The eastern shore...Vermithor and Silverwing are approaching," As he finished speaking, twin monstrous roars washed over the castle, my heart beating faster at the sound of them even as I heard Helaena beginning to hum.
Rhaenyra and Daemon themselves were surprised at the roars before we heard Caraxes and Syrax as well as the other dragons responding, the two of them looking at Helaena as she smiled.
"Now then, sister, Uncle Daemon, I shall bid you adieu."
"Wait, Helaena," Rhaenyra spoke up, Helaena and I looking at the princess who turned to Daemon with a frown.
"Go."
"Of course," He nodded as he walked first, Rhaenyra taking a deep breath before her gaze steeled as she looked at us.
"You two will stay at my side, understood? You are not to approach the dragons until they approach you."
"Understood, Princess," I nodded with a bow, Rhaenyra looking at Jace who followed after Daemon before the three of us walked behind him.
"Lord Torrhen, Princess, are you two okay?", Criston asked as he pushed through a group of guards, looking relieved at my chuckles and Helaena's smile while Arryk and Erryk was right behind their fellow Kingsguard.
"We heard dragon roars. Should we make our way back to the ship?"
"No, do not worry. It is simply something that we need to go look at before we leave," I spoke with a calming smile, the twins looking a bit wary even after my words while Criston narrowed his eyes.
"My lord, I know this is me speaking beyond my station and I ask for your forgiveness in doing so, but I fear that you may be making a decision that could prove more harmful than good to both you and Princess Helaena."
"You need not worry, Ser Criston. It is not my day nor my beloved's to join our ancestors in the realms beyond," Helaena murmured as the five of us along with Rhaenyra, Jace and the Dragonstone guards walked out of the main entrance, my gaze immediately focusing on Daemon who was seated on a blood-red dragon with a serpentine neck.
Right in front of the two were two dragons that were nearly as big as Vhagar herself, the first being covered in shimmering golden bronze scales that shone in the dim sunlight coming through the clouds while the other was coated in ethereal silver scales that made it look otherworldly.
The bronze one looked as if it had a perpetual glare on its face as it stalked closer, only ceasing its movements when the silver dragon lifted a wing to make it pause while it looked directly at us.
'No, not us. Her,' I thought as I glanced at Helaena, who didn't say anything as she looked back at me.
"Sagon iedrosa, nuha dona~ Iksan kesir sir (Be still, my sweet. I am here now~)," She began to sing in High Valyrian, her voice echoing across the courtyard and down to the shores as everyone looked surprised when the two of us began making our way down the steps to the shore.
"Be gida, delenka gevives~ Ivestragi nuha prumia gida aoha odres (Be calm, silver beauty~ Let my heart calm your anguish)," I watched as the threads of heaven and earth danced around us, Silverwing's thread wrapping around her before she turned as I stopped beside Caraxes and Daemon.
"Go," I mouthed, to which she looked at me with a smile before she turned and continued walking. As she did, I watched as Silverwing approached her, Vermithor staying in his place while his gaze was focused on mine.
"Delenka gevives~ Rhaenagon nuha laesi (Silver beauty~ Meet my gaze)," I heard Helaena whisper, turning my head to see her standing with her right hand held out as Silverwing lowered her head.
"Se gimigon Nuha issare kessa va moriot sagon leda ao (And know My soul will always be with you)," She ended softly, Silverwing pushing her snout against her palm with a slow rumble as I watched their threads of Aether intertwining and becoming one.
Unfortunately, the moment did not last as a deafening roar ripped through the air, Silverwing and Helaena uncaring for it while I flinched back as Vermithor let us know that he is still there.
Clamping my hands over my ears, my ears rang as the dragon kept up its roar for a few seconds longer before it finally lowered its head, letting out a huff with a plume of smoke while its gaze focused onto me.
"Torrhen," Helaena called out, my eyes flickering to her to see her standing with a smile as she nodded.
'Well, if I fail here, I get burned alive within seconds. ...There are worse ways to go.'
"Drakari pykiros, tikummo jemiros Yn lantyz bartossa, Saelot vaedis(Fire breather, winged leader~ But two heads to a third sing)," Daemon's head snapped around so fast I almost thought he broke his neck when I began to sing, my tone rough and having more bass as I watched a flicker of recognition appear in Vermithor's eyes.
"Hen nuha eleni: perzyssy vestretis Se gelyn irudaks, anogrose (From my voice: the fires have spoken~ And the price has been paid)," With the second verse, I took my first step past Caraxes and Daemon, Vermithor approaching as well as I took a deep breath and let my thread of Aether reach out to the world.
"Perzyro udryssi, Ezimptos laehossi Harossa letagon Aot vaedan(With words of flame, with clear eyes To bind the three, to you I sing)," The world of Aether around the two of us ceased moving as Vermithor's thread reached out.
"Hae merot gieruli, se haros bartossi Prumysa sovili, genidaeri~ (As one, we gather, and with three heads We shall fly as we were destined, beautifully, freely)," My own thread of Aether swayed through the air as it intertwined with his, my eyes widening as memories flashed in my sight.
"I had a dream last night, my friend," I found myself standing next to Vermithor as we looked at the king beside us, his purple eyes staring out at the Blackwater Bay while his long white beard swayed in the wind.
"One day, Vermithor, there will be a soul who will sing to you in a way I could not. When they come, that will be the day you will hear the one who will sing the song of ice and fire.
When you hear it, I want you to promise me that you will help them. Help them sing the song that I never could. Help them bring peace to a world when I could not. Will you do that for me, old friend?,"
"I promise," The words slipped from my lips in High Valyrian as Vermithor let out a growl in sync with it and I watched as Jaehaerys I Targaryen laughed at us before he nodded.
"I do not understand you, old friend, but I've known you enough to know that was a yes. Thank you," The sight in front of me vanished as I found myself back on the shores of Dragonstone, staring at the bronze dragon in front of me who was silent.
"So, that's it, huh? You've been waiting for someone to sing the song for you?", I whispered as I took a step forward, raising a hand and smiling as Vermithor bumped his snout against my palm with a rumble.
"Well, you don't have to wait anymore. If I do not let you hear the song of Ice and Fire by my death, you have my permission to eat me," I murmured, chuckling at his pleased rumble before I looked to Helaena who looked pleased.
Both of us then turned to the shocked crowd behind us, Daemon slowly climbing off of Caraxes as Helaena walked over and linked her arms with mine, both Vermithor and Silverwing letting out deafening roars that felt oddly comforting and warm to my ears.
"Sister," Rhaenyra was the first to speak, her gaze flickering between Helaena and I as I reached up and rubbed the underside of Vermithor's chin.
"Sister."
"What...How...?"
"We do not know, princess. I admit I am just as stunned as you are," I spoke, Rhaenyra's gaze turning to me before I looked up to see Vermithor shaking its head.
"He wishes for you to experience the freedom of life," Helaena spoke as she walked to the side of Silverwing's neck, with me following her lead as I walked to the side of Vermithor and stared at the long climb in front of me.
'Well, no one said that this was going to be an easy thing.'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"O-Okay. V-Vermithor, slow down, okay?! Slow dooowwwwwnnn~!", I admit that a manly squeal came from my lips when Vermithor began diving towards the sea below us, but I also then realized why that was a bad idea when the air pressure began to fill my lungs and I found it hard to take a breath.
Thankfully, the playful bronze beast pulled up and skimmed along the surface of the water, letting out a roar as we flew above the ship that we took to Dragonstone and back towards where Silverwing and Helaena were flying.
I could barely hear her giggles over the sound of wind bombarding my ears, narrowing my eyes at her amused smile before I looked to the bronze dragon below me.
"Okay, Vermithor! First things first! You need to stop doing that if you want to hear the song of Ice and Fire!", I shouted over the roaring winds, shaking my head when I just felt it let out a series of growls.
Far up above us, I watched as Silverwing glided with an almost godly grace as Helaena leaned forward against her neck, the two of them dancing like a dream given flesh.
'They're the dream above and we're the nightmare beneath, roaring and tearing through the clouds, eh Vermithor?', I thought with a smirk as I scratched his scales, chuckling at his rumbles before looking back in front of us.
Watching as King's Landing slowly became visible in the distance, my mind went to how people were going to take this news.
Helaena, the 'failure' of a Targaryen having claimed Queen Alysanne's Silver Beauty, and I, Torrhen Stark of the North, having claimed King Jaehaerys' Bronze Fury.
I could already hear the people shouting in the distance as I looked to Helaena, who looked back with a smile and a nod while the Aether danced around us.
"Let us show them," She mouthed, a smile on my face as I nodded before shifting on Vermithor's scales despite feeling them digging into my thighs as we flew above the outskirts of King's Landing.
"Alright, Vermithor! Let's do this," I began, looking to Helaena who nodded before we shouted in unison.
"Dracarys!", The sight that ensued from our words were beautiful as bronze-red flames danced with silver-white, illuminating the skies above the walls as I did my best to lean away from the fire. Vermithor and Silverwing danced as they slowly descended, a smile on my face as the two dropped down softly in front of the stunned crowd.
Letting out a bellowing roar to announce our arrival, I knew that the common folk were more stunned by me riding a dragon than Helaena finally having one as we sat tall.
Both Helaena and I looked to the west with our dragons when another roar echoed in the air, a smile on my face as Aemond and Vhagar touched down with a loud thump and a growl from the larger dragon.
"S-sister? T-Torrhen?!"
"Hello, Aemond," Helaena greeted while I chuckled, the teenager just looking at me in surprise while Vermithor and Silverwing let out growls in greeting to Vhagar who returned them with a low rumble.
"Make way! The Queen is coming through!", I heard knights shouting, turning my head to see not only Alicent but also Otto, Larys and scores of Gold Cloaks following behind as their protection.
"Helae-Lord Torrhen?", Alicent spoke in surprise as I smiled and bowed my head in greeting, Helaena giggling as Vermithor huffed while Silverwing let out a soft, slow growl.
"Hello, Mother. As you can see, our trip to Dragonstone was quite...successful."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"This is...Well, I do not know what this is," I heard Otto murmur from where he sat in front of us, Helaena leaning against me with a happy smile like usual as Alicent stared with a frown.
"How is this possible?"
"Simple, Mother. I heard their songs in my dreams and we sang them to them."
"I'm wondering more on how it is possible for Lord Torrhen to be able to tame a dragon when he is not Targaryen."
"And where does it say that only a Targaryen is allowed to bond with a dragon, your Grace?", I asked in turn, her eyes narrowing while Otto spoke up.
"Your unique capabilities, I assume?"
"You assume correct, Lord Hand. It appears that my magical abilities make it possible for me to be able to bond with and ride on a dragon. Although, I assume that it is not just magical capabilities but something more since I'm sure that there were many who were like me and tried."
"What did it feel like? Perhaps, we could find a way to replicate it."
"If you try to, the flames of the dragons will wash over those poor enough to dive into them," Helaena chimed in and I nodded, Alicent frowning at our words before I looked to the door as it opened and Larys walked in.
"Apologies, your Grace, my Lord Hand, but there is a slight...problem heading towards this room."
"What is that problem?"
"Prince Aegon has found out about Princess Helaena and Lord Torrhen returning with dragons and he is not in the best of moods."
"Where are they?!", Aegon's voice echoed through the hallways, making me blink in surprise as Otto sighed before he looked to Alicent.
"I will go and see to my son. Daughter, Lord Torrhen, please stay here with my father."
"As you command, your Grace," I spoke with a nod, Helaena simply humming in response as Alicent left while Otto turned to the curious Larys.
"Why is my grandson shouting in the hallways like a buffoon?"
"Well, I do not know the full story myself, Lord Hand, but it appears that with Lady Helaena having obtained Silverwing and Lord Torrhen having bonded with Vermithor, that he feels threatened of his position as Prince and heir to the Iron Throne."
'No, he isn't. Until Viserys himself comes down to announce that, there is still an empty spot,' I thought, watching as Otto glanced at me before I turned my head as the door flew open.
"Ah, there they are~! My sister and her 'beloved'."
"Aegon, listen to me."
"Oh, don't worry, mother. I just wanted to congratulate my sister on finally getting a dragon, though I don't think Torrhen is a part of my family, is he?", Aegon asked drunkenly as he looked at me and I glanced at Helaena who shook her head.
Yeah, this isn't worth the fight.
A/N: And we end it off here~! Well, there is the dragon bonding moment.
Was it good? Bad? Not too good, not too bad? Let me know.
Also, I decided to upload this one early because the 'If the Price is Right' is going to take a while for me to finish.
Next chapter: Watch What You Say.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!