As the maesters began their work, Valarissa and Qyraxis, soaring in the sky once again, didn't have to search long before finding a suitable place to temporarily house the dragon. Located outside Kingslanding by the sea shore, Valarissa ordered Qyraxis to descend, and he landed with a mighty presence. She climbed down, holding on to the spikes of her dragon.
"Qyraxis, stay here for now. Don't attack anyone," Valarissa instructed. Considering something, she added, "I will send your meals here, and if you want, you can hunt in the seas."
Observing Qyraxis lying down, she couldn't be sure if the dragon fully understood, but the bond between them reassured her that it did. With that, she decided to return to the Red Keep. However, another oversight became apparent – having flown outside Kingslanding, she now had to walk all the way back to the city. With no other option, she began the journey on foot.
Some time before Valarissa entered Kingslanding City.
A black raven winged its way toward the Red Keep. It reached a servant in charge of collecting messages from ravens. Upon examining the message, the servant noticed a difference. Unlike the usual messages, this one originated from Dragonstone. Given the recent events involving the Princess and Daemon being an open secret in the Red Keep, he didn't hesitate. Quickly, he rushed to the maester to deliver the message.
The young servant rushed into a room, pushing the door open hastily. The old man, Maester Mellos, deeply engrossed in his books, was startled by the sudden intrusion.
Maester Mellos, a stalwart scholar and healer to the realm for decades, a member of the King's Small Council, known for his calm nature and trusted advisor to Viserys, looked at the servant boy who dared to disturb him in such a rude manner.
As Maester Mellos was about to scold the servant boy, he noticed the message scroll in his hand. The boy hastily explained, "Forgive me, Lord Maester. There is a message from Dragonstone." The urgency in the servant's voice caught Maester Mellos's attention, prompting him to focus on the message.
In the wake of recent events and with the princess away from Kingslanding, Maester Mellos felt a foreboding sense upon seeing the urgent message from Dragonstone. His urgency was evident as he instructed the servant, "Dragonstone! Bring it here immediately." The young servant, heart pounding, hurried to obey.
After handing over the scroll, the servant left the room knowingly, and Maester Mellos began to pace, his thoughts racing. The long and challenging journey from Dragonstone to Westeros meant that Ravens were sparingly used, considering the risks of not all reaching Kingslanding. Trying to calm himself with deep breaths, he anxiously awaited, ensuring the young lad had finally left the room before fully opening the trembling scroll.
As he read the hastily scrawled words, Maester Mellos' heart sank. The message conveyed that Valarissa, the youngest daughter of Viserys I, had been involved in a terrible accident. While successfully claiming a wild dragon, she suffered serious injuries, severe enough to confine her to bed for many months and life-long scars and burned marks.
Rising forcefully from his chair, clutching the scroll in his hand, Measter Mellos rushed out of his chambers in haste. His aged body seemed to forget its years as he swiftly navigated the corridors, making his way to King Viserys' chamber.
The Royal guards in silver at the door recognized the urgency in the maester's step and hastened to report to the king about his arrival before opening the chamber door for him.
Upon entering the room, King Viserys, engrossed in sculpting, looked up at the maester. In the corner of the chamber, Alicent and her maid reacted to the maester's anxious presence. Viserys, sensing the urgency, furrowed his brow in concentration.
"Both of you leave; I have something to discuss with the Maester," Viserys ordered.
Alicent and the maid bowed as they left the chamber. With them out of the room, Viserys and Measter Mellos were alone.
"Is there something urgent, Measter Mellos? You seem rather perplexed," Viserys questioned.
Hesitating, Measter Mellos stepped forward and handed the scroll to Viserys. He stood back, awaiting a response under Viserys' confused gaze.
Turning his gaze to the scroll, Viserys soon read its contents. His face transitioned from normal to gloomy in an instant. Soon, his hands shook, and his fingers clenched.
"Damn! That bastard hurt my daughter. I will have his head if something happens to her," Viserys yelled, throwing the sculpturing tool in his hand.
For the first time in many years, Viserys shed his veneer of weakness and returned to the formidable Viserys who rode Belerion.
Measter Mellos saw the gravity of the situation and understood the king's anger was justifiable. With no words to offer, he remained silent.
After venting his anger and cursing at Daemon, Viserys sat down. "Leave me be," Viserys said to the maester.
The maester bowed and left the chamber. After some time, Rhaenyra, learning about the raven from Dragonstone, rushed to her father's chambers, eager to know what had happened to her sister.
Entering her father's chamber, Rhaenyra found him seated with red, angry eyes, staring at his sword, seemingly unaware of her presence.
"Father!" Rhaenyra called out, her voice trembling with worry. He seemed so lost in his thoughts that she wasn't sure if he'd even heard her. Slowly, he turned his head towards her, his eyes still red from anger. The pain in his face was evident, and it broke her heart.
"Did something happen to my sister, Father?" Rhaenyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The concern in her eyes was unmistakable as she took staggering steps towards her father. "Did uncle do something to Valarissa!" she asked, almost shouting, seeing her unresponsive father.
Viserys, still caught in the grip of his emotions, viserys took a deep breath, attempting to compose himself before he answered, "I don't know!" He continued, "Daemon sent a raven from Dragonstone. He states your sister went into the Dragonmount and claimed the wild dragon Cannibal and was injured." A moment of silence lingered before he added the last part, "And he expects me to believe that." The skepticism in his voice was palpable, reflecting his doubts about Daemon's account.