บท 16: Walk Along The Sands
(Aerion's POV)
As Rhaenyra and I walked alongside the beach outside of Driftmark, I felt the salty breeze hit my face.
"So...." Rhaenyra said, "I trust that you will accept me then...."
I nodded, "I have to." I said, "I don't have a choice."
"I am giving you a choice, Aerion." She said, "You don't deserve to feel like you're cornered."
I looked at her, her long and pretty white hair flowing in the slight breeze, "I wasn't given a choice when I was betrothed to Ariana." I told her, "Yet I accepted her. She and I didn't marry, we never got a chance to. And here we are. You want me to help you, I will."
She looked at me, "Good." she said, "But I have to hear it from you, that neither my Father nor I are forcing you."
"Rhaenyra, you...." I said as I looked ahead, "You have been good to me my whole life, why would I not accept you as what you are? The Heir of The Iron Throne. Do you truly think that I care for such politics that I will look at that little runt, Aegon, as the rightful one? He has no decency and lacks the quality of a Knight, let alone a King."
She chuckled, "I am glad you see it that way." She said
"I do." I said
"Father probably sees you as a good way to defend me." She continued, "You, Rider of Vermithor, and arguably the best swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms."
"I am starting to think that's another reason he betrothed us." I said as I looked ahead, "I will treat you good, Rhaenyra. I will be good to you, I give you my word."
I stopped as she looked at me, "I know." She said softly as she grabbed my hands, "I just regret the circumstances that led to this moment."
"As do I." I said, "The gods play a cruel game, taking our partners away from us, do they not?"
She gave me a sad smile, "They do..." She whispered, "I hate that....Laenor....I loved him..."
"Despite his true nature?" I said, "Nobody can hear us, Rhaenyra, you can speak freely."
"We loved each other." She looked away, "In our way, we did. You know, we tried, Aerion...we really did....to produce an heir."
"What do you mean?" I raised an eyebrow
She scoffed, "Oh, don't play coy with me." She said, "You know what I mean. I've heard of your efforts to silence your House on those rumors."
"That's what they are." I said, "Rumors."
"But..." She started
I placed my hands on her shoulders, "Rhaenyra." I said, "That's all they are....Rumors...okay?"
She nodded, "Y-Yes....."
"Laenor was a good man, one of the best." I said, "He loved those boys and I'm sure he would've loved Joffrey, that's his son, okay? But.....I am aware that he had his.....well, he loved men."
"Qarl..." She shook her head, "I did not think he was that full of jealousy...that coward...."
"He got what he deserved." I said seriously
"How did you do it?" She asked me
I stepped back and placed my hand on Lady Rhea's handle, "I hanged the men he was with." I said, "Then I cut him loose and gave him a chance to fight back. He didn't last long; I plunged my sword through his stomach, telling him that it was the proper way to kill a man...then had Vermithor bathe him in flames."
"He deserved worse." Rhaenyra said
I nodded, "He did." I said, "But it is not my way, to show cruelty out of anger."
"Ser Gerold raised you well." She said
"He did." I said, "I miss him."
"Of course you do." She said as she reached over to my face and patted my cheek, "He was like a father to you. Every time I saw you, he was at your side, the look of pride he had on his eyes every time he looked at you, his little Lord...."
"I..." I started as I felt the soft touch of her hand, "I am angry still....part of me wants to take Vermithor to the mountains and burn those savages out...but the retribution is done....the ones that killed him are in the ground...."
"Do not let your heart be overtaken by hatred and anger...." She said softly, "Please....do not be like him..."
I placed my hand on hers, "I...." I said, "I'll try not to....."
As I said this, I felt a massive thud and a loud nasaly roar which startled the both of us.
I looked up to a sand dune and the massive shadow of a long and skinny dragon appeared. I saw the blood-red scales of the infamous Blood Wyrm as he crawled over the dune and made his way towards the beach.
Atop Caraxes, I saw him, my Father, holding onto the saddle.
I placed my hand in front of Rhaenyra as I got in front of her, defensively.
"Daemon..." She said
"Hm?" Daemon said as he looked at us, "Oh, Rhaenyra is here too.....Ah, no matter."
The Red Dragon reared his head back and let out a roar into the skies which resounded everywhere.
I scowled, "What is he doing?" I muttered
Suddenly, I saw a massive shadow fly over us and Vermithor's roar was heard, deafening as it was louder than Caraxes.
I pulled Rhaenyra closer to me as Vermithor landed behind us, letting out a deep growl as he bared his teeth at the Blood Wyrm.
"Vermithos, Lykiri." I commanded as Caraxes roared back at him
Vermithor opened his maw as he lowered his head next to Rhaenyra and I, his eye darting between us and Caraxes as he let out a rumble.
"Hm." I heard Father say, "Bronze Grouch indeed."
I then watched as Caraxes lowered himself and he dismounted him, landing on the sand and making his way towards us.
I reached over to Vermithor's snout and patted it, "Easy, old boy." I said in High Valyrian, "It's alright."
He then stepped back a few feet as Rhaenyra walked in front of me.
"What do you want, Daemon?" She asked
Daemon stopped several meters away from us as Caraxes vocalized loudly behind him, the massive head of the red dragon swaying above the sands.
"I gave what my brother told me a long thought." He said as he paced from side to side, "I figured it was time I meet my son."
"Oh is that so?" Rhaenyra said, "After all this time, you finally decided so?"
Daemon stopped and looked at me, "Well done, boy." He said with a smirk as he pointed at Vermithor, "Nobody and I mean this, nobody has dared to claim the Bronze Fury. Vhagar is one thing, my Laena was brave enough to do that, but that old bitch is nothing compared to this one. The fiercest dragon...of course, not including mine own."
Caraxes raised his head above him, letting out a rumble.
I stepped forward and stood next to Rhaenyra, "Hm..." I said as I eyed him up and down
"Laena told me that you wanted either Caraxes or Vermithor..." He continued, "You got Vermithor so I came here to show you this one. It's the least I could do, after all."
I looked at Caraxes, the sight of him, even in the encroaching darkness of the night, was something to behold. I never thought I would've been able to see this dragon, but here we are.
"Okay, you showed him." Rhaenyra said, "Have you had enough? Leave us."
Daemon looked at me, "You got nothing to say to me?" He asked as he ignored Rhaenyra
I took a step forward and looked around, "Hm..." I said, "You.....you're smaller than I thought."
"That is funny." He said with a sly smirk, "You are much bigger than I thought."
"Well, maybe it's my mother's blood." I said as I shrugged, "Old Bronze Cunts and all..."
He frowned, "Hm..." He said, "Is that so? I see you've taken a liking to my gift."
He gestured at my blade, Lady Rhea.
"Yes, I suppose I have," I said
"You have two." He said, "Isn't that a bit too much?"
"If you don't like that, you'd hate the name I chose for the one you gave me." I said as I looked at him, "Care to take a guess."
His expression changed to a serious one, "I am aware of its name..."
I nodded, "Good." I said, "You don't deserve to hear its name....Her name...."
"Daemon." Rhaenyra said, "What do you want?"
"I wanted to see my son." He said, "But it appears he doesn't want to see me."
"Oh, but I did....." I said as I looked towards the sky, "I did...for so long.....yet...you weren't there...Sixteen years is a long time, Father. Things have changed."
"It appears so." He said, "And they will change more now that the two of you are to wed."
"Is this what it's about, Daemon?" Rhaenyra asked, "About us?"
"Quiet, girl." He said seriously, "I warn you."
I gave him a serious glare, "Hold your tongue before her, Father." I said, "Or we'll have a problem."
"Is that so?" He looked at me, "What will you do? You are going to fight me?"
I placed my hand on the handle of my blade, "Maybe." I said, "I have a bone to pick with you."
"Is that so?" He said, "What is this bone you want to pic-"
"You fucking know!!" I cut him off as I scowled, "You fucking know well enough to not act like a fool! What you did to my mother is unforgivable!! You made it so that my only memories of her face were marked by the scars you gave her!"
Vermithor let our roar as he stomped his wings behind me, but stayed his ground. He was merely reacting to my ire.
Daemon's expression changed to a much softer, one that felt remorse, "I did not mean to do that." He said softly
"Yet you did." I said with anger, "And for the sake of my sisters, I will stay my blade. You don't deserve them, you never will."
"Aerion." Rhaenyra grabbed my arm, "Easy."
I watched as Daemon began to walk back to Caraxes, "Congratulations on your betrothal, Son." He said as he began to climb atop his dragon, "I hope the two of you have many children and continue my line."
"Until the next time we meet."
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