Ashes In The Castle ||| Aemond Targaryen

twenty-nine

It was a shock when Vermithor emerged from his lair on Dragonstone. Since Jace died, he hadn't let anyone near him. As if he felt the anguish of his imprisoned rider.

But there was no mistaking it. When the dragon emerged from the Dragonmont after weeks, the ground shaking with each step, he was on a mission.

The Dragonkeepers could not keep him, could not force him to stay. They risked being torched if they did. They could only watch as he took flight, heeding the silent call of his rider.

***

Naerys was in the courtyard when she heard the alarm.

"Dragon!"

Without thinking, she joined the rest of the soldiers as they gawked up into the sky, to see if Vhagar had finally arrived to torch them.

She knew immediately. It wasn't Vhagar. The massive shape in the sky, the bronze scales. It was Vermithor.

Some of the less visually gifted soldiers yelled for the scorpions and crossbows.

"Are you all fucking blind? That's my dragon!" Naerys yelled into the air, forcing the fear-ridden soldiers to back down as a massive flying lizard approached them. With one word, he could torch the castle.

Naerys ran toward the gate and called for it to be opened. Her heart was racing, filling with excitement and joy as she waited for the doors to be pulled open for her.

The moment she could fit through them, she did. Naerys turned sideways and ran out, as far out onto the path as she could get. She stared up into the sky, watching her dragon return to her. It had been months.

Targaryens had bonds with their dragons that were unexplainable to outsiders. The soldiers couldn't understand the joy, the complete lack of fear Naerys exhibited as her dragon, a terrifying beast, swooped low and landed right in front of her.

Maybe they were closer to gods than to men.

The ground shook beneath Naerys' feet as Vermithor landed. He let out a grumbling roar as soon as he was on solid ground.

Vermithor lowered his head toward the ground, to where his rider was standing just inches from him. Their faces were almost touching, Naerys could feel the hot and stinky breath that exited his nostrils.

She placed her hands on his face, underneath his chin, and moved to the side, towards his eye and ear. Naerys caressed him lovingly, his mere presence bringing her immense comfort after her months of inward turmoil.

"Good boy," she whispered, holding his head as best she could. Vermithor moved his head side to side, a gesture she knew well, and grumbled. The loving noises of a dragon.

Naerys looked at his side and found that he'd been refitted with a saddle. He'd been taken care of, at least. And she could ride him comfortably.

"Telling you to wait will do nothing, I imagine." Naerys turned to see Daemon with his hand on his sword. "Fly safely."

With a knowing smile, Daemon watched as Naerys walked around to the side of her dragon and climbed the ropes. She pulled herself up onto his saddle, leaning forward to pet him before she chained herself in.