Daeron waited patiently for Shiera, who was standing over him, to finish whatever it was that interested her as he sat in her private chambers inside the Eyrie, chambers which he knew she had not used since they got here. However, what she and Aenys did was none of his business, so it was not something that he was going to comment on. Mostly because Shiera scared him. She scared him a lot.
It was an unfounded fear to be honest. She had been helpful and kind to him over the years. Daeron could admit to himself that most of the fear he felt toward the woman was due to the rumors that swirled around her. For as insightful as he could be, this was a mystery that still eluded him.
'Aenys is not scared of her.'
Eying the plentiful breasts that seemed to bounce with every one of her movements through that dress of hers, Daeron understood why….maybe.
Daeron had never visited a brothel before or forced one of the female servants to serve him like Aerion enjoyed doing, but there were times where he was tempted to do so. He realized a couple of years ago that he had a very strong libido, but the occasional flashes he received when he dreamed about a….different version of himself, if that made any sense, always stopped him from giving in to his urges. That other Daeron was a drunk mess who whored around and was scared of everything.
He did want to be like that.
Daeron did not know what those visions meant. He had never told anyone about them until recently. The visions scared him. The possibility of becoming a drunk who was scared of his own shadow haunted his mind. Most of all, he wanted to impress Aenys, whom Daeron regarded as a brother. It always made him feel good to see his father proud of him too. When Daeron told Maekar that he wanted to join Aenys at the Vale for the upcoming campaign against the mountain clans, his father had given him a brief hug and accepted his choice, his eyes burning with approval.
His father was a hard man to get close to, and an even harder man to receive affection from, but it was during those brief moments that Daeron saw the caring and loving man that he was underneath his rough exterior. The one that his mother often said she fell in love with.
Anyway, he was getting off topic.
Daeron had many visions and dreams that often plagued him. He had had them for as long as he could remember. Like he said, he was always too scared to tell anyone about them until recently. Thankfully there were times where he could almost….control them to an extent? It was difficult for him to explain. He could traverse through the dreams and visions, briefly, but it was not easy. It took a lot of concentration and power, and he ended up just lost by the end of it all. And most of the images that he saw were not things that he understood outright. The dreams were filled more with symbolism than with people, although there were times where he saw people too. At the very least, the dreams weren't so draining that he could not function in the real world. It was almost as if his mind and mental fortitude became stronger every time he had them.
Aenys was the one whom Daeron confided in first. Aenys was a dragonrider. If there was anyone in the family who could understand the magic of the dragons, then it was him. And Daeron was confident that these visions and dreams had something to do with the dragons. From there, Aenys had him turn to Shiera for help. According to Aenys, Shiera was an expert when it came to these things.
Sometimes Daeron wondered if Aenys thought too much with his other head for his own good, but he decided to give it a shot.
Thankfully Aenys had been right. Shiera had helped him put his condition into perspective.
"You're a dreamer," she had explained to him. They had been on Dragonstone the day that Aenys brought Daeron to her. "A very powerful one at that. I believe you've had more dreams than anyone else that's been recorded in our family."
"Dreams?"
Shiera had given him a brief smile. "Yes. The same magic that saved our family, or so the story goes. I'm sure you've heard of it. Daenys the Dreamer. She's the most famous dreamer in our family's history, but there have been more."
Aenys had looked excited. "Do you think-"
"Sorry, my dear. I don't think you're a dreamer."
Aenys had sulked.
While amused by Aenys' reaction, Shiera had given Daeron one last piece of information that day, something which stuck with him at all times.
"You should count yourself lucky, Daeron. I believe it's due to Aenys and his dragon that your mind has adapted so well to these dreams. His magic has strengthened yours. It's nice to rely on family, isn't it?"
Daeron had been too scared to ask what could have happened to his mind if Aenys and Vaeraxes were not here.
The image of his other self, pathetic and drunk, flashed briefly in his mind.
After that, Shiera offered him more insightful lessons throughout the years and even helped him decipher certain visions. The ones he felt safe enough to share with her at least.
There was magic in their blood. This was something that Shiera liked to often tell him and Aenys. There was a reason why the Valyrians practiced brother-sister marriages even during the days of Old Valyria. "Keeping the blood pure" meant more than just safeguarding mere titles. It was about keeping their dragons safe as well as their ability to bond with them. Shiera explained how it was very possible that there were different lineages of dragons in the days of the Forty Families. Each lineage belonged to each one of the families, bound to that family's line through blood magic. If the blood spread outside of the family, then that family's monopoly on its dragons would cease.
And the dragons were everything.
Daeron never questioned Shiera as to how she knew these things, not confident enough to confront her like that. He often overheard her say that there were still many things that she did not know, though. Honestly, if this was the tip of the tower of the information that was lost due to time, then Daeron could scarcely imagine what else was out there. These were not lessons that any maester or septon could teach.
Anyway, even as diluted as their blood had become due to marrying outside of the family, Shiera said that there was still magic within them all, just slumbering and ready to be unleashed. This was where his dreams came in. Shiera also hinted that his mother's family might have something to do with it, but she never gave him more information about that specific tidbit.
Were the Daynes special too? Sure, while his mother might have dark hair, Daeron had seen some of her other relatives, and they almost looked Valyrian in appearance.
'Mother also has the eyes of a Valyrian….'
It was not something that Daeron had given much thought to before to be honest, but once he started paying attention to these details the more confused he became. His mother did not seem to think that there was anything special about her family. She did not have any secret family history that she could give him.
"You seem lost in your thoughts, young Daeron."
Shiera's alluring voice brought his attention to her.
"Just thinking about the campaign tomorrow." That was a good excuse, right? Even though his father said that he and Aerion wouldn't be anywhere near the front lines, it was the first time that he was going into battle. Daeron felt a bit excited at the prospect.
Shiera's eyes twinkled with amusement. Daeron could tell that she did not believe him.
"It's fine to keep your secrets, so long as they do not endanger those around you."
Daeron almost rolled his eyes. "I haven't had any specific dreams that you have to worry about."
"Hmm." Shiera just hummed as she stepped back. Her hands had been hovering over him for a while, but now they fell back at her side. "Your mind seems to be doing well. I'm almost impressed with you."
Almost?
"Are you going to tell me what you keep checking for?" Daeron felt that he had the right to ask that much at least.
"It's nothing bad. I just want to see if the dragon dreams are deteriorating your mind."
Deteriorating?
Daeron frowned. "What-"
"There's nothing for you to fear. You seem to be doing well. If anything, I would say that you've become stronger for it."
Shiera's smile did not comfort Daeron any.
Watching his great-aunt talk about his condition like a mere curiosity reminded Daeron that Shiera did not care about him in the same way that she cared about Aenys. He could tell just from the way she looked at Aenys compared to how she looked at him.
Daeron was more like a…curiosity than an actual person to her. He often wondered how long she had known about his condition before he even spoke of it to her. She seemed weirdly insightful about a great too many things for that to not be the case. And if she had already known, then why hadn't she offered any support beforehand?
Deep down, Daeron knew why. It just felt awful to know that such a beautiful woman had no interest in him.
'Aerion is rubbing off on me too much.'
Although even his younger brother, as promiscuous as he was, never tried his luck with Shiera. In his words, he'd rather not have Aenys feed him to Vaeraxes.
The thought of Aenys and Shiera as a couple was such a troubling thought that it made Daeron's stomach churn. Not because he wanted her. No, no. But because of the troubles that it would bring.
Honestly, if Aenys decided to take that step, then Daeron was almost prepared to face his dragon dreams first rather than face their grandfather's wrath.
"Are you thinking about the battle again?" Shiera asked with a raised eyebrow. Sometime after she finished her work, she had gone to one of the seats and plopped herself down with a journal in hand.
Feeling embarrassed, Daeron stood up and made for the door.
"Sorry for keeping you."
"Don't be. I was the one who invited you."
If only it were for something else. If only.
---
Shiera watched Daeron practically run out of her chambers like an embarrassed kitten with a great deal of amusement. It was hard for her to sometimes remember that Daeron was the same age as her Aenys.
'I suppose even he has grown into his own,' she thought wryly.
Daeron was already ten and five, and so Shiera was not surprised nor offended when she noticed his eyes drinking in her form. As upright and serious as the young Targaryen pretended to be, Shiera was already aware of what else lay within. After all, she had been studying Daeron's dreams for sometime now.
Her interests in the dragon dreams were a mere side project for her. At least, without a glass candle, she could not proceed deeper than she already had. The Citadel would not part with theirs, and her brother had been less than forthcoming in helping her convince the old fools otherwise.
'What was it that he said again? To leave Aenys alone?'
Shiera had almost laughed in Daeron's face when he said that to her. Unfortunately for her brother, his hidden jealousy toward Daemon had come to bite him in the ass years later in the form of his own grandson. Ah, but she didn't want to spend her time thinking about her bitter brother. Not right now.
There were more glass candles out east, but Shiera was not going to tempt fate and leave Aenys alone just so that she could go on a little journey of her own. She did not trust her brothers nearly enough for that. Aenys was not ready to leave Westeros, and she didn't have anyone who could search for her either. Brynden could do it, but her brother was not interested in bowing to her whims anymore.
'He's become just as bitter as Aegor.'
Shiera did not understand having such small ambitions….no, she couldn't say that anymore. She was no different from Aegor and Brynden now. Although her desires were perhaps more carnal than even theirs. And wasn't that hysterical?
To Shiera, magic had always come first. People were second, which included her family. Since she was a child, she had been prepared to devote herself to unraveling the mysteries of this world first and foremost.
But Aenys? In him, she found an interesting mix of both, and it still amused her to know that it was all because of her childish whim.
She still wondered if replicating her so-called love potion could produce similar results, or if the circumstances surrounding Aenys' birth were impossible to replicate. Shiera still remembered the red comet the night Aenys was born. Was that the cause of everything that came after, or did Aenys cause the red comet to appear in the first place? Did Aerys and Aelinor carry the potential to produce more dragonriders or was it just Aenys?
The king and Baelor were already eyeing the possibility of Aenys' children being able to hatch more eggs in the future. If that happened, if Aenys' children could hatch the slumbering dragon eggs, what would they do? What would Daemon do? He had more than enough daughters to try his luck if he wished.
'Two dragon riding families….'
The black and red dragon. What would that mean for the future if that came to pass?
So many questions with so many little answers.
But what else was new?
Of course, that would only ever happen if things occurred as her half-brothers wished, but for the first time Shiera was more than happy to get in the middle of their plans and ruin everything for them.
She could only imagine the look on Daeron's face when he discovered just how little control he had over the situation.
For now, Shiera was content to let things keep flowing as they were, but she knew that Aenys wouldn't settle for that for too much longer.
'Once he returns….'
Shiera was looking forward to that.
---
The campaign started early in the morning.
Aenys watched the lords who had gathered at the Eyrie lead their forces away from the Giant's Lance under the command of his uncle. Maekar rode in the back alongside Daeron and Aerion. Aelor had wanted to accompany them too, but his mother had forbidden it. Maekar had not been too keen on bringing Aelor along as well. Aerion was already pushing it, but Aelor? He was much too young.
His uncle Rhaegel would be sitting out of this whole affair too. Aenys had nothing but love toward the man, but a warrior he was not, less so a commander.
Aenys knew that many thought Rhaegel was nothing more than a simple minded man, unfit to rule. Unfortunately, Aenys was forced to agree with that sentiment. His uncle was a good man who loved his family, but a good king he would not be. He wasn't sure whether Rhaegel enjoyed going out in the Red Keep naked or if that was just another silly rumor, but Aenys felt inclined to believe it.
'And they say madness comes from our incestuous ways.'
Aenys would always scoff at the things that were said by some of the servants when they thought no one was listening. No doubt the resentment some of the smallfolk had toward his family was also shared by some of the lords.
Sitting atop Vaeraxes, however, Aenys found that the thoughts of such petty lords meant next to nothing. It was easy to see why the Valyrians of old thought of themselves as superior. When riding a dragon, you felt invincible, more so when you were literally the only dragonrider left in the world.
The contempt that some of these lords held toward the Targaryens were born out of nothing more than jealousy. Andal fools, the lot of them.
'It's not like I don't have some of that blood in me.'
It was something Aenys sometimes pondered. Why had his egg hatched when none of his cousins' had? He was no different from them, after all. Was it just fate?
Aenys did not like that answer. It felt….too easy. On the other hand, he didn't have any other answer to give.
"You look like you're contemplating murder up there, Aenys."
Aenys glanced down to see Brynden standing some meters away, dressed in his armor with Dark Sister in hand. Since the man was sensitive to light, he also wore his hood and cloak. His great-uncle was keenly aware that approaching Vaeraxes carelessly could result in his own death, so he was always cautious and kept his distance.
Vaeraxes merely took a single glance in Brynden's direction before finding the clouds overhead more appealing than the former Targaryen bastard. To be fair, it was a rather beautiful day in this part of the realm. And the rays of the sun only made Vaeraxes' unique scales all the more beautiful. The gold in them seemed to shine more. Aenys found that Vaeraxes looked the most impressive at night, though. The gold in the dragon's eyes seemed to just amplify under the moonlight.
"This will be the first time that I taste battle, uncle," Aenys replied after taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "It's only unfortunate that I won't be closer to the action."
He was interested to see if he could kill one of the hill tribes with his own hands. Burning them with Vaeraxes was as good an alternative as any he supposed.
Since he would be flying with Vaeraxes, Aenys would set out much later than the rest of the men. He only came out here to see them march out, curious to see what it would look like. He was already dressed in his personal armor too: a gleaming night-black plate armor with golden ringmail beneath. The breastplate featured the infamous red three-headed dragon of the Targaryens. He was not wearing his helm, but it was decorated with flowing gold, red, and silver silk streamers, an homage to Vaeraxes' flames. The helm also bore dragon motifs. It made for quite an image.
Aelora had wanted to give him her favor to take to battle, but Aenys rejected the offer. Not out of spite but out of practicality. This was no tourney.
"I'm amazed you haven't flown out on your own yet," Brynden said as if he were just discussing the weather.
"We'll probably do some laps around the mountain before setting off. Vaeraxes wants to stretch her wings."
If Brynden picked up on Aenys' usage of "her," then he didn't show it. Instead, the albino gestured to Dark Sister as he took a couple of steps forward tentatively. When he did, Vaeraxes snapped her head in his direction again, a low growl emanating from deep within her.
The growl vibrated through the courtyard of the castle where many of the servants hugged the corners like rats in order to take a peek at Vaeraxes. Aelora, Daenora, and Daella were watching from one of the balconies nearby, but that was to be expected. The three of them were always fascinated by the dragon and rode with him often. It was one of the few times where Daenora became assertive and ironically enough it was when dealing with an actual dragon.
His mother was also with them, as was Ser Jon. Two of the Kingsguard were going into battle with Maekar, so only one remained behind in the Eyrie. Aenys felt better knowing Ser Jon was close to his mother while he was away.
Aenys placed a hand on Vaeraxes to try and calm her.
"Be at peace, friend."
The growls stopped, but Vaeraxes kept her eyes fixed on Brynden.
"I worry about who might be able to ride Vaeraxes once you pass," Brynden said as he began to approach again.
"It was said that the Blood Wyrm held similar temperaments, and he found a rider after Prince Aemon."
"Of course you would know that." Brynden unstrapped Dark Sister from his side before throwing it up at Aenys.
Aenys was caught off guard by this but still managed to catch the beautiful sword in his hands. Unlike the sword which the Lannisters had gifted to him so many years ago, Dark Sister weighed so much less. Not that Aenys would have struggled with a longsword regardless, but the lightness of the Valyrian steel still surprised him.
"What-"
"It's yours," Brynden said with the same indifferent tone that he carried most of the time. The fact that he was giving away one of the most prized possessions in the realm did not seem to bother him. Aenys heard that many in the Red Keep feared Brynden, but with how nonchalant he always acted with him Aenys could never see Brynden as "scary."
"I think your first battle with Vaeraxes should be commemorated."
Aenys gazed at Dark Sister in wonder. The color of the blade and the hilt were the same: dark, rippled, and smoky gray. The guard and the pommel bore the usual impressive dragon motifs that Aenys had admired from afar.
And now it was in his hands.
"I was going to challenge you for it."
Brynden made a noise that sounded almost like a sneer or a scoff. Aenys could not tell.
"I have seen you in your practices with Maekar and the Kingsguard. There would be little point in embarrassing myself."
Unlike his namesake, Aenys had thrown himself into his swordsmanship with great ferocity, to the point that he asked the Kingsguard for practice duels whenever possible. It wasn't just the sword that Aenys was familiar with as Maekar ensured that he was familiar with all types of weapons, probably because the man preferred maces himself, but knowing that he wanted Dark Sister it was the sword with which Aenys trained the most.
Before Aenys could reply, a raven suddenly landed on his shoulders with a loud croak.
"Take her with you." Brynden was already walking away. "If you wish to relay anything to the rest of us, you know what to do."
Warging. Of course.
Aenys envied both Shiera and Brynden for their abilities. While he possessed some skills of his own, it paled in comparison to the abilities of his two relatives. The king knew what Brynden was capable of too and kept him close. It was almost like an open secret at court by this point, although not many knew the extent of Brynden's true abilities. This still did not stop many from referring to Brynden as the "king's sorcerer."
To Aenys, it was more like his grandfather feared Brynden than respected him, but that might just be his growing annoyance toward his grandfather talking.
Whatever. All of that mattered very little right now. He now held Dark Sister, and Aenys could not stop the excitement that was growing within him.
Vaeraxes must have felt it too because she was already turning toward the sky again, ready to take flight.
What a day this was turning out to be. After resting peacefully within Shiera's arms the night before, he did not expect to be met with two great revelations today.
As he grew older, Aenys realized that it was Shiera who sneaked into his chambers at night to hold him in her arms and sing to him. He never told her that he knew, but it was just another one of those things between them that did not need to be said. She must have already understood that he knew, but he never once asked her to stop so there was nothing else that needed to be said.
She would always wake up before him. Why? He did not know. Maybe she thought it was a game between them. It was still hard for him to understand women sometimes.
When he had first approached Vaeraxes earlier today, Aenys had been able to tell that there was something different with his dragon. Something in their bond had changed. Almost as if Vaeraxes had come to some sort of decision on the day that they would first fly into battle together. It had taken Aenys a few moments to deduce what it was, and when he did he almost laughed.
Vaeraxes was a female dragon. She had not laid any eggs yet, but Aenys was just able to tell. Or maybe Vaeraxes had merely decided that she was and that was the end of it.
Maesters pondered and argued about how to tell the gender of a dragon. And yet, Vaeraxes made it look simple by just deciding what she wanted.
'Something else Shiera was right about.'
If he wasn't so close to her, Aenys might have felt some sense of fear toward her precognitive abilities.
On top of that, he was now the new wielder of Dark Sister.
There was a moment's silence before Aenys came to a decision.
"You. Boy! Get over here."
Aenys barely paid any mind to the young servant who was pushed forward by the others after he called out to him. The boy's knees were shaking as he approached Aenys and Vaeraxes, but Aenys paid that little mind too. Aenys also paid no mind to the boy's attempts to apologize for overstepping by watching him from the shadows. Instead, Aenys removed his previous sword and threw it down at him.
The unnamed boy yelped as he was barely able to catch the sword in time and even then he still fell back to the ground. He was weaker than he looked. Luckily for him he did not get hurt.
"Keep that safe for me when I return."
Aenys did not wait for a response as Vaeraxes began to flap her wings. There were shrieks and cries from the onlookers as Vaeraxes took off from the courtyard with a set of powerful roars.
Soon enough, it was just Aenys, his dragon, and the raven.
---
Vaeraxes had a lot of stamina. Aenys had never tested what her limits were. They flew constantly over Dragonstone and the Blackwater Bay, but Vaeraxes had never once tired even after flying for hours. She was nimble and quick despite her growing size. His father often said that it was probably due to Vaeraxes' daily active schedule. It was said that Rhaenyra Targaryen's dragon had been sluggish and heavy due to being kept in chains and pampered.
How a dragon could be pampered while basically kept imprisoned was beyond Aenys' imagination, but perhaps he only thought this way because he and Vaeraxes were raised differently. He had not grown up in that environment. He had never thought of chaining up his dragon, and he would not dream of it now. For that reason alone, Aenys was confident that he pampered Vaeraxes more than Rhaenyra had pampered Syrax.
Vaeraxes enjoyed being outdoors. She loved hunting. She almost lived like the wild dragons of the past except that she always returned to Aenys when she was done with her daily "exercises." It was this style of life that had allowed Vaeraxes to become so nimble and swift despite her large appetite.
Aenys did not know how long he and Vaeraxes had flown over the mountains for. It was more than a few hours at least. At some point, he had donned on his helm. Dark Sister was secured at his side. At this moment, Aenys felt as though he had gained another part of himself. Like he was transcending.
Perhaps he was going mad, but the time he spent in the skies with Vaeraxes seemed to come with some revelations.
After today, things were going to change.
"Fire. Fire. Fire!"
The raven squawked from Aenys' shoulder. He was not impressed by the raven's ability to speak. What impressed him was how the bird remained firmly on him even as Vaeraxes raced through the sky.
Not bad for a bird.
Aenys did not need to wonder what the raven meant with that single word to understand. He already knew what it was really trying to say.
Although briefly surprised by the speed with which Maekar had moved on the hill tribes, Aenys quickly urged Vaeraxes to change course. He had already memorized where Maekar's forces would be striking first. There was no reason to dawdle.
Vaeraxes flew with purpose as they left the Eyrie far behind.
Through the many animals that he warged into, Brynden had discovered the different camps that the hill tribes had set up at the base of the mountains. It spoke to the arrogance of the hill tribes that they set up a camp so close to the Eyrie itself. Brynden also discovered how these forward camps were trenched. The clansmen had created many different paths leading up the slopes to connect them all. The mountains were home to many caves that these hill tribes were very familiar with. It was easy to fall back to them if any of their forward camps were intercepted through the unmarked paths that none of the Vale lords knew about. There were also the many forests that called the area home. It was easy to get lost in them if you did not know where you were going.
All of these factors allowed the hill tribes to become very adept with their ambushes and skirmishes over the years.
Maekar's host was composed of 500 knights with additional spearmen and bowmen for support. This wasn't accounting for the levies. It was larger than any other expedition in the history of the Vale. Supposedly even minor lords contributed as much as they could, which was different from previous expeditions. This was due to a combination of factors, ranging from how much of a problem the hill tribes had become in the past year and to the fact that it was a Targaryen prince leading the expedition.
Aenys' presence might also play a role. It was the first time that a dragon was aiding the knights of the Vale in their fight against the mountain clans. The fact that Aenys was present must have lit a fire in many of the lords, whether large or small.
In the end, it mattered little to Aenys.
Rather than spreading out his forces, Maekar was concentrating his attack on one camp. He wanted to be like one powerful lance and pierce his way through the hill tribes, one camp at a time. It was methodical, and when facing an enemy that excelled at ambushes it was smart to keep his forces concentrated. Less chance of getting picked off like a smaller force would.
Aenys found the approach too slow.
And so, as he neared the site of the first camp, Aenys already knew what he was going to do.
The first camp was deep in the forest. It had been set up away from where the High Road began, which connected the Eyrie to the Bloody Gate. Using uncharted mountain trails the hill tribes have had a history of getting around the Bloody Gate, so this fact was not too surprising to any of the lords of the Vale. It had still been insulting to set up a camp so close to the Bloody Gate and the Eyrie, almost as if the clansmen were mocking them.
The base of the mountains was essentially a lush valley with fertile soil, so Aenys almost felt bad about what he was going to do.
The clansmen had not been caught wholly off guard. Their scouts must have alerted them that the knights of the Vale were marching on them. Even though the trees were in the way, Aenys was still able to spot many skirmishes occurring simultaneously in the area.
Unfortunately, there were just too many men for the clansmen to adequately fight off. They were barbarians perhaps, but they were not stupid.
Retreat was inevitable.
Aenys was not going to let that happen.
"Down."
Vaeraxes obeyed.
Rider and dragon approached the far side of the camp. From above, Aenys was able to spot the path that the clansmen had created which led from the forest onto the foothills.
Aenys was not sure if any of the clansmen saw his approach. Vaeraxes had not made any sound except for the flapping of her wings. She was like a silent hunter, and the clansmen were her prey.
"Burn them."
Vaeraxes dove down straight at the retreating clansmen. It was only then, as Vaeraxes spewed her white-gold-red flames right on top of them, that Aenys was able to spot the first traces of fear on their faces.
The flames not only burned, but they also carried a huge wave of intense pressure with them that knocked everything out of their path.
It was a quick dive, but Vaeraxes' flames incinerated many of the clansmen within seconds as her flames spread like a massive tidal wave.
Aenys thought he heard screams as he and Vaeraxes quickly ascended but perhaps he was only imagining it. No doubt the men would be burned almost instantaneously by the hot flames. Vaeraxes was not looking to play with them, after all.
This was only the beginning.
Vaeraxes came back around to dive down and deliver another round of her flames, scorching anyone who was left on this part of the trail. The flames were so intense and powerful that they were quickly spreading to the trees nearby and then the forest.
Those that stood away and closer to the camp and saw this came out of their stupor and tried to fight back, hurling whatever missiles they could at Vaeraxes.
It seemed that there were not many archers with the mountain clans.
None of them hit. For as quickly as Vaeraxes descended, she was just as fast to take back off. It was almost as if she could control the air itself with the way she moved up and down at a moment's notice.
It was spectacular.
With the chaos unfolding at the far side of the camp, some of the clans' riders were returning from the front lines to assist. These horses were small, suited to the narrow paths of the Vale. Even with full grown horses, it would do these hill tribes little good.
Vaeraxes turned her flames on them next and burned them all. She did not settle for just cutting off the camp's retreat. She burned the entirety of the camp down with everyone in it.
It was here that Aenys realized that he really was hearing the screams of agony from the clansmen. Some of them did not burn right away but were merely scorched by the flames, leaving them in pain but still alive. He did not put an end to them. Let Maekar and the others handle them.
Aenys had many others to burn.
---
Maekar could hardly believe the sight that greeted him as he entered what remained of the camp. As these camps were made to be quickly evacuated, none of the structures were meant to last quickly. They were mostly huts and tents. Very different from the more sturdy fastnesses and longhalls that the chieftains called homes.
Still. The damage could not be understated. The ground itself was charred black. For a moment, the flames from Vaeraxes had burned so strongly that Maekar feared the whole forest would be burned down. Thankfully that did not happen and the flames eventually slowed down. Vaeraxes was not big enough to cause that amount of damage yet.
But still. This was beyond anything that Maekar could have imagined.
'One dragon did this.'
A young dragon that was still growing.
There was similar clarity in the faces of the lords who accompanied him as they saw the devastation which Vaeraxes wrought. The cries of pain and death from the few clansmen who survived the flames seared a very powerful message into all of their minds.
"Incredible." Aerion was one of the few who was not disturbed by the sight. Rather, he seemed elated. His eyes were burning with intensity. "This is a dragon's fire."
Maekar could not trust himself to say the right thing to him at that moment so instead he turned to Brynden.
"Where is Aenys?"
After Vaeraxes had finished her attack, the two had not been seen again.
Brynden's face was more collected than Maekar's, which on some level annoyed him. How could Brynden appear so calm at a moment like this?
"It appears as if our young prince has taken off without us."
"What?" Maekar did not understand.
Brynden's next words caused Maekar's heart to almost stop.
"He's attacking the rest of the camps without us."
---
The campaign lasted a few days. Not because it took Aenys that long to incinerate the clansmen. No, it was because it took Maekar and the rest that long to verify that all of the camps were destroyed.
Aenys was not sure if he and Vaeraxes had killed every single of the clansmen who had come down from their fortresses to take part in the raiding. Perhaps some had managed to get away.
What he was confident in was the fact that thousands of clansmen had been burned in a single day. All by him and Vaeraxes.
It would come to be known as the "Clash of the Ember Fields" throughout the realm. It was a victory in which the Vale only had one single casualty: while riding, one of the knights accidentally fell from his horse and injured his leg.
It was such a decisive victory that it would burn in the minds of any hill tribes who remained for a long time to come.
Aerion had been ecstatic about the whole campaign, maybe more than Aenys. From the way he acted, it was almost as if he had flown on the back of Vaeraxes himself. He had killed several of the injured clansmen once they started sweeping through what was left of the camps with elation, exclaiming how it was their folly that led them to their deaths.
Daeron was also in awe, but he was more cautious with his excitement.
"So this is what dragons are capable of."
No doubt he and all the other lords present were reminded once again of why the Targaryens were the masters of Westeros. Already Aenys could see both the fear and the respect from the many gathered lords when they looked at him and Vaeraxes. Chiefly among them was Denys Arryn, the heir to the Vale. Aenys did not doubt that the man would report all of this to his father once they returned if he hadn't already sent a raven.
Of course, it wasn't all celebrations. Aenys endured a heavy beratement from Maekar about flying off on his own. His uncle listed out all the ways in which things could have gone wrong due to his impatience. Aenys understood that he might have been careless, but he regretted nothing. Neither did Vaeraxes. The hill tribes were caught completely off guard. None of them had expected to see a dragon flying at them. Now they would know that they could not act like they pleased lest they suffer a dragon's wrath. Why previous kings hadn't bothered to either conquer them or eradicate them was beyond Aenys. However, it wasn't his problem to deal with.
Despite his uncle's scolding, Aenys was still knighted right on the ashes of those he had burned. Maekar himself did the ceremony with all the lords in attendance. It was not a big spectacle, but to Aenys it was still a grand moment. For him, it was better to earn his knighthood in battle than it was on some altar in the Great Sept.
It was only unfortunate that he was not able to beat Daemon's record.
At least Aenys had a Valyrian steel sword of his own now.
The march back to the Eyrie took a couple more days. While the first camp had been close to the castle, the others were more spread out, and so it took the large force some time to march back. The mood was celebratory among the knights and the other men. Considering the history of fatal clashes against the hill tribes, many of these men had not expected to return to their homes and families.
Now, they were all grateful to Aenys and Vaeraxes.
Rather than flying back on his own, Aenys decided to accompany Maekar and the rest. Brynden did not offer any words to him during this time, but that was okay. Aenys had a good time drinking and joking around with Aerion and Daeron. While his cousins had not fought in any actual battles, they could now say that they had been part of a military campaign which included a dragon.
"To the blood of the dragon! The true masters of Westeros!" This had become Aerion's favorite cheer during their drinking.
Lord Arryn had a new grand feast prepared for their return. Maekar had sent a raven ahead informing the Eyrie of the total success of the campaign, in no small part thanks to Aenys and Vaeraxes. No doubt soon the Red Keep would get word of the campaign as well.
Aenys could already picture his grandfather's response but rather than allow himself to think about troublesome things he enjoyed the feast for what it was.
Unlike before, the lords had summoned their families to the castle in order to celebrate with the royal family. The mood was now festive, doubly so since there had been no serious casualties to speak of.
It amazed Aenys that such a small castle like the Eyrie was able to house such a grand feast.
His mother fretted over him when he returned, but he reassured that he was okay. She of course was not happy with what he had done but above all else she was just happy to see that he was not hurt.
Aenys was not surprised when Lord Arryn marked him as the honored guest of the feast. Even if it was expected, he still felt like the old lord was trying to win favors with him.
Aenys was forced to entertain many of the lords as they introduced their unwed daughters one at a time. It was painful, and Shiera did not come to his aid. She had actually kept her distance since his return. The twinkle in her eyes whenever they would lock gazes told Aenys that she was not mad at him. If so, then what was her game?
The only amusement to be found during all of this was the way Aelora looked unhappy whenever Aenys was forced to talk to another highborn lady.
The only ones of note who stood out to him were Lord Otho Royce's granddaughters: Rhea Royce and Perra Royce.
Yeah, there was a joke about fate to be made there.
It took some hours but after most of the lords became too intoxicated to even stand, Aenys was able to slip away from the High Hall without anyone noticing. He had only drank a bit during the feast, not wanting his sense of judgement to be clouded and make some mistake that he could not take back. Like bedding one of the lords' daughters.
Ser Jon was standing by the door to his chambers, his posture lax until he noticed him.
"Prince Aenys. I did not think that you would return so soon."
"And you? Not going to enjoy yourself?"
A small smile appeared on the knight's face. "I believe taking it easy as I have has been more than enough."
Of course. His distant cousin wasn't one to drink and whore. He had a more temperate personality.
"Then you're a more faithful man than I, cousin."
"You honor me, my prince."
Aenys walked past him. "Do not let anyone disturb me tonight, Ser. Even if it is my own mother. Not unless there's an emergency."
"Of course, my prince."
Ser Jon did not question the odd request. It was something else Aenys liked about the man. It was almost a pity. If Aenys had been in line for the throne, then he would have bestowed a white cloak to the knight. He had the skills and the temperament for it.
Aenys entered his chambers while locking the door behind him. He was not surprised to see that Shiera was already inside, sitting on his bed as if it were her own as she wrote something in her journal.
She was not dressed in any of her formal clothing. Rather, she wore an almost translucent shift which a Lysene noblewoman might wear.
"I thought you would be enjoying yourself with the others for the rest of the evening." Shiera said without looking up from her journal.
"I saw you leave."
"Yes. I had a lovely time. For the first time, the attention was not on me. It was a new experience."
Aenys removed his red cloak. He might have thrown it on the floor or on the table nearby. He wasn't certain.
"Brynden gave me Dark Sister."
"I know. How generous of him." She finally looked up from her journal and smiled. "Are you unhappy?"
Aenys didn't frown. At least, he didn't think he did as he walked closer to her. "I wanted to best him."
"You already have. Unlike the others, you're not afraid to try and take it from him."
"Was it your father who gave it to him?"
"Yes. Another insult aimed at Daeron perhaps. Our father decided on his deathbed to pass it on. Brynden was but a child at the time and preferred his bows over the sword, but that did not seem to matter to Aegon. There was no ceremony like with Daemon, so it was not something that was talked about. With the death of the king, there were more pressing concerns."
"And my grandfather did nothing about it."
"He allowed Daemon to keep Blackfyre." Shiera's smile grew an inch. "What makes you think he would take Dark Sister from Brynden who's loyal to him?"
Aenys now stood in front of her.
Shiera closed her journal and set it aside. "So you're a knight and a killer of men now, Aenys. How does it feel?"
"Like there's much I have to do."
"Such as?"
"I'm not sure. I just know I want something of my own."
"Is the realm not yours?"
"I don't plan on starting another civil war."
"That is not what I meant." Rather waiting for a response, Shiera raised her arms up to him. Knowing what she wanted, Aenys knelt down before her and allowed Shiera to wrap her arms around his head and bring him in for a hug.
"Have I led you astray thus far?"
Aenys did not answer. Rather, he pushed her back on the bed with him on top.
Rather than get offended, Shiera looked….at peace?
"Are you done hesitating?"
Something about that annoyed Aenys. But it was also true.
"Do you want this?"
Shiera's laugh was gentle and almost silent. "That is not the question you should be asking."
"Then what is?"
"Are you prepared for the consequences?"
Aenys cocked his head. "Consequences?"
"The king will be angry. He had high hopes for you."
Aenys knew, and there was only one thing that came to mind at this moment.
"Fuck the king."
He leaned down and kissed her.
Shiera returned the kiss, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. They held each other close as they kissed and explored everything the other had to offer.
Aenys still didn't know many things. He did not know why she waited for him, and yet he still did as he wanted.
It would be a memorable night for the two of them.