The Gathering Storm | Aemond Targaryen

Chapter 25

Haera departed the small little village just before midday. The storm had rolled passed, but snow still fell gently and slowly, blending with the waist high snow drifts that covered the landscape.

The innkeeper Salna had fashioned Haera s sort of cane in hopes of it helping the princess back through the woods and towards her dragon. But it was not enough and therefore Salna had chosen to assist Haera herself, though the thought of standing before such a beast made the poor woman more than nervous.

"I've said it once already, I am perfectly capable of getting back to my dragon on my own—" Haera sighed, looking over at the woman besides her who had insisted on carrying her satchel and sword for her.

"Will all due respect Princess but the second you tried to go down those steps in my in earlier you collapsed. I'm addition I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you out here. The north is unforgiving." Salna struggled through another snow drift, carving a sort of path for Haera as the two ducked under a now hanging tree branch weighed down with snow.

Haeras body ached in ways she didn't know were possible. Sure she had many days where when tracing with Daemon where by the time the sun had set her whole body was screaming. . . But this was different. It was worse.

She had a broken leg, several large bumps and bruises, and her back screamed with pain from bringing thrown to the floor the night before.

The two struggled through the snow for several more minutes before Haera spotted the familiar glint of midnight blue scales, the sun reflecting off the snow to brighten the colors on her dragon.

At their approach, Stormdancer raised his head, piles of snow falling from him as he did though half his body still remained beneath a large drift of snow.

Besides Haera, Salna stumbled back, her lower half being swallowed by white powder as she collapsed on her rear. A new look of fear crossed the poor woman's face as Stormdancer brought his face closer, letting out a warm plume of steam into her face.

"He ain't gonna eat me is he?"

"No. Not unless I command him too." Haera smiled, leaning her weight into the makeshift cane as she held a hand up for Stormdancer, the great beast nudging her hand gently.

"Oh well ain't that lovely-"

"Are you ready to go big guy? I promise no more snow for a good long while. You can curl up in the caverns of the Dragonmont for the next month for all I care.

Her dragon release another puff of steam before flexing his wings, shaking off the snow as he did. He rose slowly from the snow, steam rising from his scales.

Haera then turned to her new friend, giving her a tired smile. "Thank you Salna. Your kindness will not be forgotten. When I get back to Dragonstone I'll claim the reward they put on me and have it sent to you."

"Princess, I couldn't possibly accept—"

"It's yours. Every last piece of it."

Salna bowed her head, clearly understanding that it was a gift from her Princess. "Thank you, my lady."

Taking her belongings back from the innkeeper, Haera shook her head. "No. Thank you. You have showed me a kindness that I did not expect to find here."

As Salna stood beneath the snow covered trees, Haera strapped her things back onto the large saddle before climbing up herself. The buckle that had broken the night before still hung loosely from the saddle, unable to be used.

She would have to be more careful flying now. With a damaged leg and a broken buckle it was she couldn't fly like she normally did. She would have to take more breaks.