The Gathering Storm | Aemond Targaryen

Chapter 11

Haera stayed on that beach for most of the day. Ignoring the rumbling of her stomach she rested her elbows on her knees as she sat in the sand watching Stormdancer lay in the shallow waters of the bay, the water just tickling his nostrils as he let the gentle waves lap against his face.

She would have to face her mother when she got back, tell her that she knew of her plan for her. She would also have to go back to trying to figure out the words her grandfather had spoken to her earlier.

How in the seven hells was she supposed to fix a family as insane as hers?

Four days ago Haera thought she would be going to Kings Landing to simply see her slowly dying grandfather and king, and now? Now she was apparently heir to the Iron Throne and tasked with the job of fixing her family so it didn't tear itself apart.

Maybe she would fly off to Pentos. She could cut off all her hair and pretend to be a boy. Daemon would never find her.

But then again his earlier words were correct.

She could never leave Jace and Luke, nor her mother.

Sometimes it was a curse to love your family more than your freedom.

Rising from her spot in the sand, Haera wiped the down her riding leathers before pulling her gloves back on with ease. Letting out a loud string of Valyrian, she called Stormdancer, the great beast rising from the water with a shake of his wings that sent a spray of water down on the Velaryon.

She was halfway through buckling herself back into the large saddle when a blot on the pink and orange horizon to the west caught her eye. It was a dragon no doubt. The size of it nowhere near close to a bird.

With a new sense of curiosity and concern, Haera commanded Stormdancer forward, the he-dragon launching himself off the beach with such force that he stirred up a half a ton of sand in his wake.

Perhaps Daemon had come to retrieve her, or perhaps it was her mother.

Haera prayed it was the former.

Stormdancer was fast, the wind whistling across his wings as they shot like an arrow across the Bay, aiming for the blot on the horizon. Daemon often said Stormdancer was the fastest dragon to reside on Dragonstone. It wasn't until now that she actually believed it.

As the sun dipped ever lower on the horizon she aimed for, the dying orange light seemed to deep into her dragons scales, bringing out the hints of gold hidden deep within.

With the Wendwater now leagues behind her, she was finally able to make out what dragon was slowly skimming over the water, her heavy tail dragging across the surface of the waves as she no doubt search for food.

Vhagar.

Upon seeing her sheer size, Haera felt a cold sweat break out across the back of her neck. She had only seen The she-dragon a few times in her youth when her Aunt Laena was still her rider. The last time was at her funeral. The night Aemond claimed her beast. The night Aemond lost his eye.

The night his and Haeras companionship ended.

The night everything changed.

For a great beast, Vhagar moved slower than one would expect- but then again she wasn't at war or chasing anything.

Urging Stormdancer higher and faster into the colored sky, Haera leaned forward in her saddle to watch the silver haired prince sitting atop Vhagar. As they passed overhead at the same speed of a crossbow arrow being released from its groove, the great she-dragon paid no attention.

But her rider did.

As Stormdancers shadow passed over the two, Aemond looked up, his one eye connecting with Haeras as she sped past and aimed for home. The two holding eye contact until his face was too small to see.