章 20: Aerion and Rhaenyra
(Aerion's POV)
"You should be careful when cleaning your blades, Princes." I said as I sat atop a rock and cleaned Lamentation on my lap, "Any wrong move and you could cut yourselves."
I was outside of Dragonstone, Jace, and Luke were with me as Ser Steffon stood nearby, on guard. They were in front of some straw dummies that I had placed their for their training and after an hour of them hitting them, they were taking the time of cleaning the blades, despite them being training ones.
"These are blunt." Luke said
"Treat them as they are sharp." I told him, "Have your hand conditioned to avoid the edges, no matter the sharpness."
"Do we have to?" Jace asked, "I mean, we just hit straw dummies."
"You intend to be warriors, no?" I said as I chuckled, "You must tend to your blade as if it were an extension of your body. Even if you hit a straw dummy, always make sure you're used to cleaning it. You must keep your sword in perfect condition should the situation arise."
"Like killing someone," Luke said
"Not killing. To defend those deserving." I said seriously, "These aren't toys, boys. They are weapons. They are meant to cut flesh and take away life. But it is the circumstances that define their purpose. A Knight must make that choice, Princes. For who do you wield the blade? For yourself? For your family? For the people? You must tell yourself that if you mean to fight and defend, your blade must always be clean, so the people don't think you wish to see it constantly stained."
I stood up and showed Lamentation to them, it was spotless. My two swords have always seen action in The Vale, I constantly fought against those who try to terrorize my people and I do what I have to, as I was taught and raised. And yet, my swords are always spotless.
"Valyrian steel...." Luke said as he reached for it
"Ah." I said pulling away, "Nothing is sharper than a Valyrian steel blade, be careful. The time will come when you are ready to wield a proper sharp blade, let alone something of this caliber."
"Why do you have two?" Jace asked me as he held the practice sword
"Lamentation is House Royce's ancestral Family Sword." I explained, "And I am Lord of Runestone."
"And the other one?" Luke asked
"A gift." I said, "From my Father and your Aunt."
"What is the name of it?" Luke asked
"Lady Rhea." I said, "In honor of my mother."
"Nice name." He said, "Does House Targaryen have ancestral valyrian steel swords?"
"Blackfyre and Dark Sister." I told him, "Blackfyre is the sword that the Conqueror wielded while Dark Sister was wielded by Queen Visenya. Now, King Viserys is in possession of Blackfyre while my Father, Daemon uses Dark Sister. The two of those swords are of great importance to our House."
"Wow." Luke said with a curious tone, "I did not know that."
"You should, you are a Prince of House Targaryen, despite your name." I told him as I walked over to the straw dummy, "When you grow older and your dragon is large enough to be ridden, you will be a formidable dragonrider that may one day wield his own famed blade."
In a swift motion, I swung Lamentation diagonally and watched as the dummy separated in two.
"Whoa..." Luke said in awe
I looked back at them, Jace was shifting nervously as he held the practice sword.
"I heard that back in King's Landing, you were usually trained by Criston Cole or Harwin Strong." I said as I sheathed my blade and walked up to them
"Yes, but Ser Criston did not pay much attention to us." Jace said
I patted his shoulder as Luke got closer to us, "Ah, pay him no mind." I said, "I did not need training from a Kingsguard to become as good as I am. Although, I am sure Ser Steffon will provide his knowledge, I am sure."
I nodded at the Kingsguard who merely nodded in approval, without saying a word.
"Ser Harwin was strong." Luke said, "Were you better than him?"
I stepped back and nodded, "I don't like to be arrogant, but I do admit that I may have been better than him." I said, "He was good.....I am better."
"What about Cole?" Jace asked, "Are you better than him? They say he beat Daemon."
"A Tourney....I was too young to remember that." I said, "Mother once told me that story when I was a boy....My Father got too cocky and Ser Criston took advantage. Ser Criston Cole is a formidable warrior, yes. But again, I am better."
"I mean, I guess..." Jace said, "You wield two swords."
"I only need one for him, my Prince." I said with a slight smile, "Now, let us go."
"Your Mother is waiting for us."
*******************************************************************
"How was it?" Rhaenyra asked as I leaned against the wall and looked out the window
"As it usually is." I said as she approached me, "Not bad."
She grabbed my hand as she smiled, "Good." She said, "How is their progress?"
"If you let me employ a bit of.....strictness, I think I can make fine swordsmen out of them." I said with a chuckle, "Maybe get Ser Willam out here, too. He and Ser Gerold beat the skill into me."
"They don't need to be the greatest swordsmen to live, just good enough to defend themselves," she said
"But what if they want to? I cannot deny them that right." I said as I looked at her
"That may be true." She said, "Have you spent any time with your sisters?"
"Every chance I get." I told her, "I help them with their studies, I read to them, I make sure they're comfortable."
"Good." She said softly, "I had just received word from Driftmark."
"What is it?" I asked
"Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys request to take Baela to ward." She told me
I sighed, "Is that so?"
"I assume that they want the presence of a dragon there." She told me, "I told them I will discuss it with you."
"They're their grandparents, they deserve to see them." I told her
"Yes, but we won't get to see her much, You won't get to see her much." She said
"It's better than not seeing her at all, trust me." I said as I looked out the window, "I don't wish to deprive them of their family simply because I desire their company to myself."
"I understand." She said, "So you're okay with it?"
"It pains me, yes, but to keep the relationship we have with House Velaryon, it's a good idea," I said
"Well, the girls will always have a home here." She said as she patted my arm
"As they do over there." I said, "Lord Corlys will treat them both good, I know he wanted the both of them to stay but does not wish to keep me from any of them. It's only a matter of consoling them, they are sisters."
"They can always write to each other, occasional visits, of course." Rhaenyra assured me
"Yes." I nodded, "Of course."
"I will write back to Driftmark, then." She said, "Will I see you tonight?"
I looked back at her, "If you wish me to." I said
She smiled slightly, "I would like that." She said before walking away
********************************************************
Vermithor rumbled as I sat against his wing, shifting as I drank wine from a leather flask.
"Easy, Old boy." I said in High Valyrian
It was the Hour of The Nightingale, yet again. I could not sleep, I did not feel tire yet again after spending time with Rhaenyra. Even though she felt so.....spent....and decided to sleep in my arms, I could not find the sleep and decided to sneak away from her chambers and made my way down to Vermithor's cave.
I always found comfort with the old bronze grouch, much like back at Runestone. Whenever I could not sleep, I made my way to sit and feel the heat of the Bronze Fury as he laid there, looking at me.
I looked at his eyes, staring at me, "What?" I said in High Valyrian, "You can feel it, too? The void in my heart."
He snorted, blowing away dirt as he had his head on the ground, vocalizing loudly.
"Is this my place here, Old Boy?" I asked as I leaned back, "What am I to do?"
Vermithor raised his head and opened his mouth slightly, letting out a deep rumble as he turned towards me, nudging me slightly as if he meant to comfort me.
"Hm....You're right." I continued, "Make do with what I have, eh?"
I stood up as I shook my head, rubbing my hair as I walked over to him as he pulled away.
I patted his snout, "You are always there for me, you Bronze Grouch." I said with a smile, "You remember how you almost killed me?"
Vermithor blinked, vocalizing loudly, snorting loudly as I felt the force hit me in the face.
I chuckled, "You little...." I said before patting him again, "Sleep well, Old Boy."
I then walked away, my bare feet stepping on the hot dirt of the cave ground, chugging from the flask.
"Oh....." I said with a sigh,
"Life, eh?"
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