Ashes In The Castle ||| Aemond Targaryen

eight

"This is unfair," Jace whined. He stood behind Naerys as the Dragonkeepers retrieved Vermithor for her, so she could ride him with the custom saddle they'd made for her.

"Unfair?" Naerys slowly turned to look at her brother. "You have had a dragon your entire life. It isn't my fault he's still too small to ride. Maybe a pig would do you good."

She hadn't let that go. No matter how long in the past it had been. The joke was cruel. And she let them know it every step of the way. Jace looked offended for a moment.

Their conversation was cut short by the thundering, quaking steps of Vermithor as he was led out of his cavern. The moment he saw Naerys, he shook his head and a rumbling growl came from his chest.

She smiled up at the massive beast. "Vermithor, halt."

He stopped walking and without another command, lowered himself down so she could climb onto his side.

"The saddle has been fitted with chains, Princess. As they have done for Vhagar. It will keep you secure no matter how he flies."

Naerys listened to the tweaks they made and nodded. She approached Vermithor and ran her hand along him until she came to the ropes on his side. They'd been replaced and repaired so they stood no chance of breaking.

"Fly him around the island, to ensure everything is comfortable for you."

With a nod, Naerys took the new riding gloves from them and stuck them in her mouth as she began to climb. It was easier to do it in the light than in the darkness of his massive lair.

She huffed when she got to the top of Vermithor and pulled herself into the much more comfortable saddle on his back. The rope was still tied there, for her to take. But beside it were the new chains.

When she slipped the gloves on, Naerys picked up the chain and looked it over. Simple enough. It would secure the lower half of her body to Vermithor, so she wouldn't fly out of the saddle in the air.

Naerys still had freedom of most movement while ensuring she would be safe. She clipped the chain around herself and reached forward to take the rope around Vermithor. Everyone below her backed away.

"Vermithor, fly."

And he did just that.

The dragon roared as he began to run, forcing Naerys to grab hold of the saddle. And when he lifted off of the ground, flapping his wings, she was pleasantly surprised.

Unlike the first time she rode him, Naerys wasn't falling out of the saddle and at risk of death. She was secure in her seat and was able to focus on leading Vermithor where she wanted to go.

Together, they did a lap around the island. Naerys had him do some sharp turns, to see how well she was stuck in place. And to her delight, she never slipped. It was perfect.

She indulged herself a bit longer than she needed to, just to feel the air as it rushed past her, before she returned them to where they'd taken off.

Maybe she landed a little too close to Jace and Luke. But how could she be blamed? Vermithor was a massive dragon, Naerys couldn't see all of him at all times.