The massive wings of the Millennium Dragon Halcyon whipped up a gale, casting a shadow on the tranquil coastline of the Isle of Naath.
When this colossal creature slowly landed in a large clearing in the forest, flocks of colorful birds playing in the trees scattered in panic, and the Naathi hiding among the leaves were frightened out of their wits.
They dropped their lutes and woven baskets, disappearing into the dense acacia forest as quickly as startled deer.
Only when two figures deftly jumped down from the dragon's back and stood in the sun-dappled forest did the eyes hiding behind trees and in rock crevices cautiously reopen. They clung tightly to the arms of their kin, fear mixed with uncontrollable curiosity—for thousands of years, this was the first time outsiders had descended upon their homeland riding a legendary creature.
Alicia's voice echoed softly along the silent coastline: "I am Alicia, Queen of the Isle of Women, a friend of your Queen Freya."
Euron stood quietly by her side, gazing calmly at the rustling forest, patiently waiting for a response.
A moment later, the branches and leaves of an acacia tree were gently parted by a pale hand like a curtain.
Freya walked slowly out from the deep shade, the morning light piercing through the gaps in the leaves, plating her with a hazy halo.
She wore a freshly woven floral wreath. Her dark skin was like the night shrouded in mist, making her amber eyes even brighter—a reassuring gentleness, like honey melting in the forest. She had a beautiful oval face with fluid, soft lines, and her thin lips carried a hint of a smile when pursed. Her height of about 1.7 meters made her stand tall and graceful, curves extending naturally under her white silk dress, like a white magnolia blooming quietly under the moonlight.
Standing in the dappled shade, she looked like a black elf straight out of Naath legends. Even the widely traveled Euron couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly.
Halcyon seemed to sense the tranquility of this land and the unease of its residents. After its massive body touched the ground, it retracted its majesty as a Millennium Dragon. It slowly lowered its scale-covered head until it almost touched the soft sand, wings obediently folded at its sides, curling itself into a docile mountain.
It lay there motionless, only its molten gold eyes slowly turning, gently following the figures appearing and disappearing in the forest. There was no predator's sharpness in that gaze, but rather a humane curiosity, as if silently telling the panicked Naathi: Don't be afraid.
Freya's gaze first fell on Halcyon's massive body, then she recognized her friend standing in the shadow of the dragon's wing. Her golden amber eyes instantly lit up with surprise: "Alicia, is it really you!?"
Alicia stepped forward, smiling and opening her arms, letting Freya fly into her embrace like a light butterfly. The two women hugged in the forest, as if to melt the longing of these years into this embrace.
To Euron's surprise, after Freya released Alicia, she walked fearlessly towards the prone Millennium Dragon. She met Halcyon's gaze, extended her slender hand, and gently stroked the iridescent scales on the side of Halcyon's neck, her fingertips carrying the unique tenderness of the Naathi.
"Aren't you afraid of it?" Euron's voice revealed a trace of curiosity.
Freya looked back and smiled, morning light dancing on her black skin. "Its eyes tell me it loves peace and hates war just like us." Her palm remained on the dragon scales, feeling the steady heartbeat beneath. "How could such a creature hurt me?"
Euron gazed at this woman who appeared exceptionally petite under the dragon's wing and smiled. "You are the first person who, upon seeing it, neither feared nor thought of harming it."
Only then did Freya notice the strange man beside Alicia. She blinked apologetically. "Sorry, I was so focused on talking to Alicia. Are you her friend too?"
Euron nodded slightly. "Euron Greyjoy."
Freya turned to face her people still hiding in the forest, her voice clear as a spring: "Come out, everyone. They are friends who come with goodwill." Seeing the hesitation, she gently pressed her palm on Halcyon's scales and said softly, "Look at its eyes, golden like ours, just like the gentlest deer in the forest. It won't hurt anyone."
As if to confirm her words, Halcyon suddenly extended its rough tongue and gently licked Freya's cheek. She chuckled at this sudden intimacy, her bell-like laughter echoing on the coast: "That tickles!"
Seeing this, the Naathi hiding behind trees finally took their first cautious steps.
A few bold Naathi children couldn't contain their curiosity first. Leaning out from behind their parents, they reached out small hands to timidly touch the Millennium Dragon's scales.
When a warm sensation came from their fingertips, the children let out soft cries of surprise.
Halcyon emitted a comfortable, low hum from its throat, sounding like ancient lute strings being gently plucked. It extended its tongue covered in fine barbs again, gently licking the children's cheeks, making them giggle. The last bit of barrier melted away in this laughter.
Like ice and snow melting in spring, more and more Naathi walked out from the deep shade.
They held clay pots filled with amber mead and carried rattan baskets full of tropical fruits, peaceful smiles blooming on their faces again.
Soon, a circle formed in the clearing in the forest. Laughter and joy drifted with the wind, interweaving with the distant sound of waves into a wonderful movement.
Euron stood aside quietly, silently watching this incredible scene before him.
These Naathi sat unguarded around the giant dragon, fingertips stroking hard dragon scales as if touching a relative's cheek. Their eyes shone with pure joy, without a hint of the vigilance and sharpness one should have in chaotic times.
Euron narrowed his heterochromatic eyes slightly. Such a group that neither held swords nor built defenses could survive to this day on the Narrow Sea where pirates ran rampant and slavers were unchecked; it was simply like a solitary lamp that never extinguished in a storm.
In a trance, he suddenly understood—it was precisely this purity aloof from worldly strife, this nature unwilling to harm even beasts, that made them recognized in this dog-eat-dog known world as the people most suitable for being slaves.
Freya never asked the purpose of Alicia's visit, nor probed Euron's intentions. In her view, friends gathering was the most natural thing, just as the tide arrives on time at the beach and acacia blooms in the rainy season.
This Queen of Naath simply gently took Alicia's hand, pinned a freshly picked star-shaped flower in her hair, then turned to give Euron a smile without haze, handing him a clay cup filled with mead. She treated this Ironborn captain she just met no differently than Alicia whom she had known for half a lifetime—simply because Alicia said "he is a friend."
This unreserved trust was as pure as the clearest stream on Naath, yet fragile enough to startle an observer.
Euron gazed at Freya playing with the children, watching her place petals gently on Halcyon's nose tip, the giant dragon actually cooperating with a satisfied purr. The words "Peaceful People" rolled silently on his tongue, no longer a cold judgment for the first time, but tinged with warmth.
If his Golden Kraken flag could truly uphold a piece of tranquility for this pure land in this chaotic world, allowing these people who wouldn't even disturb a butterfly to continue singing their ballads, it wouldn't be a bad deed worth praising. This thought, like moonlight on the sea, rippled gently in his heart which always calmly weighed pros and cons.
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