dancing with our hands tied | r. targaryen

xxxv.

127 A.C.
KING'S LANDING
•••

AEMOND STOOD SILENTLY, WATCHING AS THE DRAGON KEEPERS INSTRUCTED CASSANA AND SILVERWING. Unlike everyone else, Cassana had no need for a translator. She and the Dragon Keeper were going back and forth and for the first time in Aemond's life he saw and heard the Dragon Keeper laugh.

"Kostagon vestran ziry?" Cassana asks as she looks at the Dragon Keeper. (May I say it?)

He nods, "Jikagon va."(Go ahead)

Cassana looks over at Silverwing and a smile crosses her lips as she speaks the words, "Dracarys!"

Silverwing lets out a low growl at Cassana's command before aiming toward the roof of the pit and letting out a massive amount of dragon fire. They all look up at the fire in awe. Cassana grins and looks over her shoulder at the boys. Aegon gives her a nod of approval while Luke claps his hand with a wide smile.

Aemond glances over at the rest of the boys and sighs loudly.

"Aemond, we have a surprise for you," Aegon says as he places a hand on his brother's shoulder following the conclusion of their lesson.

"What is it?" Aemond asks and Cassana looks over at Jace, Luke, and Aegon curiously.

"Something very special," Luke responds as he runs off.

"You're the only one of us without a dragon," Aegon says.

"Indeed," Aemond responds.

"And we felt badly about it," Aegon says as he looks down at his brother, "So we found one for you."

"A dragon?" Aemond asks as he looks at his brother, "How?"

Aegon smirks, "The gods provide."

Luke reappears with a pig, wings tied to its back. Cassana's brows furrow at the sight.

"Behold, the Pink Dread!" Luke and Aegon say in unison as they begin laughing. Jace joins in and Cassana looks at the sight unamused.

"Be sure to mount her carefully. First flights always rough," Aegon says before snorting loudly in his brother's ear.

"You are all comedians," Cassana says, "Perhaps your talents here are wasted here at court and you should all join a traveling show."

"Oh, lighten up Cassana, it was just a joke," Jace retorts. Aegon pats Aemond's shoulder once more before he, Jace, and Luke head out of the pit, leaving Cassana and Aemond alone with the pig.

She glances over at Aemond who stands there staring stoically at the pig, and she sighs as she goes to take the makeshift wings off and unties the rope from the pig.

"Ignore them," Cassana tells Aemond, "They're idiots."

"While that may be true, they still have dragons," Aemond responds.

"You'll have one," Cassana tells him and Aemond looks at her, his frown deepening.

"That's all people keep telling me," Aemond states shaking his head, "Someday, soon, eventually, I've grown tired of those words."

"Then take fate into your own hands," Cassana tells him, "I did not know I would claim Silverwing. I just went into the Dragonmount and whatever happened, happened. If the opportunity presents itself Aemond, you must take it. And if it never presents itself then who cares. There's more to life being a dragonrider."

"It's easy for you to say," Aemond states, "You're an anomaly. You claiming a dragon is special. Me claiming one is expected."

Cassana places a hand on Aemond shoulder, "You will have a dragon. I swear it."