Dragon's flame

[The Red Keep, Small Council Room]

"Did Aelyx and Daenerys receive my letters?" Viserys asked, his tone sharp and commanding.

"Yes, Your Grace," Lyonel responded, his voice cautious.

"Then why the bloody silence? It's been two whole moons since the hunt in the King's Wood!" Viserys shouted, frustration evident in his voice.

"Your Grace, I believe Prince Aelyx and Princess Daenerys have chosen to stay at Dragonstone, wanting some time there," Lyonel replied carefully, choosing his words with care.

"Very well... Send another letter, forbidding their return to King's Landing until I say otherwise," Viserys ordered, his anger seething.

"They are only five name-days old, Father... They are children, and children are bound to be rebellious," Rhaenyra interjected, her voice calm as she filled her father's cup with wine.

Viserys arched an eyebrow, then his expression hardened into a frown.

"The meeting is dismissed... Rhaenyra, walk with me," Viserys said, his tone shifting to something softer.

"Do you understand why I insist on calling your brother and sister back?" Viserys asked, his voice carrying a note of concern.

"You miss them? Perhaps," Rhaenyra replied, her voice gentle but knowing.

"That's part of it... But the real reason is to assert strength. Before the birth of your brother and sister, the Velaryons held two dragons—Sea Smoke and Meleys—and we, the Targaryens, had two—Craxes and Syrax. Do you remember?" Viserys remarked, his eyes distant as he reminisced.

"Yes, but now uncle is banished and waging war on the Stepstones with Corlys," Rhaenyra added, her voice laced with a hint of bitterness.

"Exactly," Viserys said, his gaze sharp as he continued, "But now the Velaryons have three dragons, and Daemon is off fighting in his childish war. That leaves us with only Syrax. We need Vhagar and Vaxylis—those dragons would be crucial to holding the Velaryons at bay. Their presence would not only reinforce our strength but also solidify your claim to the throne, ensuring we aren't outmatched by any of our rivals."

[Queen's Chambers]

Alicent gripped the edge of her chair, her nails digging into her palm as she brooded over the turn of events. Her father had been removed as Hand of the King, and now Rhaenyra's blood siblings commanded the largest and fastest-growing dragons. A sharp cry from her daughter, Aera, broke her trail of thought.

[Dragonstone - Aelyx's POV]

I sat with Daenerys on the edge of Dragonstone's platform, gazing out at the view.

"It's magnificent," I said for the third time since we arrived, still in awe of the island's towering beauty. My senses absorbed the intricate details of the stone structure.

"Are you done admiring its beauty?" Daenerys teased, her voice light and playful.

"I am blind, remember?" I replied, a grin tugging at my lips as I returned her playful tone.

"Our dear 'father' keeps sending letters asking us to return to King's Landing," Daenerys remarked, her voice laced with mild annoyance.

"I'm not returning to that pit of snakes. It's far too peaceful here," I said firmly. "It feels more like home than King's Landing ever will."

"I know, right? When I first set foot on Dragonstone, it felt like coming home after being lost for so long," Daenerys replied, her tone growing quiet, thoughtful.

Then, a sudden realization hit me. My connection to Daenerys was deepening—our bond had grown so strong that I could almost sense her emotions.

"Can you sense it too?" she asked, her voice softer now.

"Yes," I answered, the weight of the connection between us almost overwhelming.

Our conversation was interrupted as a golden-colored dragon landed behind us.

Syrax, with her wings spread wide, touched down gracefully on the platform.

"Enjoying yourselves? In my castle?" Rhaenyra's playful voice rang out, catching us off guard.

"No, we were merely looking after the castle for you," Daenerys replied with a teasing tone, her eyes gleaming.

"Your Grace, welcome," Ser Alfred Broome said, bowing respectfully, but there was a noticeable tremor in his voice.

The moment we laid eyes on Ser Alfred, both Daenerys and I exchanged grim looks. He was the man who had orchestrated Rhaenyra's capture, and ultimately her tragic death. For the past two moons, Daenerys and I had been quietly plotting to rid ourselves of this traitor, using Rhaenyra as our instrument of justice.

"Ser Alfred, now that our sister is here, may we take a look at the dragon eggs?" Daenerys asked, her tone deceptively light, but her eyes sharp with intent.

"Can we, sister?" I added with as much childish innocence as I could muster, hoping to throw off any suspicion.

"Of course," Rhaenyra responded, smiling warmly as she took my hand in hers. Her hand was warm and soft, not chubby like mine or Daenerys'. I noticed Daenerys pouting , but Rhaenyra only laughed, gently taking Daenerys' hand with her free one. Together, we walked toward the nursery where the dragon eggs were kept.

"Your Grace," A dragonkeeper began, his voice lowering, "one egg have hatched into Sunfyre ..." His tone grew quieter as he hesitated. "But, there's... another dragon egg.which hatched..."

"Does the other dragon have no name?" Daenerys asked, her voice light but dripping with childish curiosity.

"Your Grace..." Alfred hesitated, swallowing hard. "It... it was eaten by Cannibal before we could retrieve it."

"Wasn't the dragon eggs supposed to be monitored at all times? How did Cannibal manage to kill it?" I pressed, my voice filled with sharp suspicion.

"Answer him," Rhaenyra commanded, her tone stiff and cold, her eyes narrowing as she stared down the man. "My brother asked you a question, Ser Alfred."

"Your Grace..." Alfred stammered, his face paling.

"So, you were being careless, and my house lost a potential Vhagar or Meleys due to your incompetence?" Rhaenyra's voice was grim, her words hanging in the air like an accusation.

"Your Grace, I... I am sorry," Ser Alfred muttered, dropping to his knees in a show of submission.

"For your devoted service, I will spare your life," Rhaenyra said, her voice cold and calculated. "But make no mistake, Ser. This is no small error. From this moment on, you are relieved of all your positions on Dragonstone. You will return to your house in Westeros."

Without another word, Rhaenyra turned on her heel, and we walked out of the nursery, leaving Ser Alfred kneeling in the dust of his own failure.

"That was a brilliant plan, Aelyx," Daenerys whispered in my mind, her voice filled with approval.

As we had arrived on Dragonstone and were greeted by Alfred, Daenerys had already informed me of his failings. He was lazy, greedy, and had been neglecting his duties. House Targaryen had lost two to three young dragons due to his negligence in monitoring the eggs. With that in mind, I had orchestrated this scheme to corner him into revealing his incompetence—and it worked perfectly.

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[Ser Alfred's POV]

The moment I saw Aelyx and Daenerys arrive on Dragonstone, something didn't sit right. They were here for something, and it felt like they knew. My blood ran cold as I tried to maintain my composure, but deep down, I felt the weight of their gaze.

I had been careful, covering my tracks as best as I could. I'd spent years under the Targaryen banner, hiding my true nature and bending the rules when it suited me. But now, with the arrival of the young prince and princess, I began to realize that things were no longer as simple as they once had been. They knew.

When Rhaenyra arrived, the tension in the air thickened. I could feel her eyes on me, but it wasn't the usual admiration or respect I'd grown accustomed to—it was suspicion, doubt. And when she asked about the dragon eggs, I knew something had gone wrong.

As I stammered through my explanation, I could hear the coldness in her voice as she demanded answers. The truth was, I had been reckless. The eggs were not watched closely enough, and Cannibal had taken advantage of my negligence. I feared that Rhaenyra had figured it out, that this was the end of me.

When she condemned me, I bowed low, hoping to avoid the worst. I begged for mercy, but even as I did, I knew it was futile. This was no small error. The Targaryens would never forget the loss of such precious dragons.

As she dismissed me, I felt my heart drop. Dragonstone was no longer a safe place for me. The Targaryens had seen through my deception, and now I would pay the price for my carelessness.