Ashes In The Castle ||| Aemond Targaryen

five

Naerys found it quite a shock when she was informed, the same day of her true father leaving King's Landing, that they were moving.

"Moving? Moving where?" asked Naerys, pausing to look at her mother.

"We are relocating to Dragonstone. It's our right to reside there, as I am the heir. We are not respected here. It is my belief you will have a much happier upbringing on Dragonstone."

It took her a few moments to think about it. But Naerys decided she was okay with it. Not that her opinion mattered.

Other than getting away from her uncles, there was something else significant about the move. There was an active volcano on Dragonstone. The Dragonmont.

And what resided in caverns near the volcano?

Riderless dragons. A chance for Naerys to finally have her own beast. She was completely fine with it. Truly.

She could continue her training there, too. With members of the Kings guard who would follow to be of service to Rhaenyra.

It took a few days for everything to be packed and arranged. But when it was, Rhaenyra's family unit bid farewell to Viserys, Alicent, and the others.

They didn't seem all too sad to see them go. Other than Viserys, Naerys knew they were happy to be rid of the troublemakers.

The journey wasn't so bad; not really. They had the dragons following them along as they rode in the carriages and they flew next to the ship as they sailed.

In only a few days, the island was coming into view. And it was magnificent.

With a maze of a pathway up to the massive castle, it looked like a fortress. The volcano behind it, the small shops, inns, pubs, and fisheries.

It would be a perfect place to claim a dragon.

They approached it together, once they were off the boat and had made it through the port. Up the winding path and towards the front gate.

Rhaenyra paused with her children to admire it. Their new home. They would be happy there, away from the accusations, whispers, and bullying.

And they continued on.

***

Since the castle was so large, Naerys had her own royal apartments. It was glorious, to have a dozen or so rooms to herself. She didn't have to share with her brothers.

And as they got settled down, Naerys took the time to explore. Her goal was to walk every hall and corridor, to find every room one could hide in. She wanted to become acquainted with the halls so that she may traverse them without becoming lost.

It took them a few weeks to create a routine. But true to Rhaenyra's word, it was better there. When they could eat dinner as a family and spend more time together without getting pulled away for various duties.

But it seemed that since they relocated, Jace and Luke didn't care as much for their sword training. It was strange, that they concerned themselves more with their dragons and books than fighting.

Naerys often found that she was alone on the sand, a built-up hay dummy her only partner. The beach did provide some good stamina training, though.