The Dragon and the Rose | Aemond Targaryen

Chapter 8: Homecomings

"I wish I had Dreamfyre right now."

Alysanne looked up, surprise evident on her face at Helaena's statement. Her friend knew how much she feared dragons, so her statement was perplexing.

"Hmm?" Alysanne hummed, not knowing quite how to respond.

"Sorry, I know you don't like talking about them. I just mean, if she were here, we would have arrived back at Kings Landing by now."

Alysanne let the statement settle between them, feeling the carriage rock back and forth as they made their way down the road, and looking towards the Queen who was making conversation with one of her handmaidens and paying them no mind.

"Oh, I see."

Helaena hummed in appreciation, clearly not aware of how her statement had impacted her friend.

"I'm sorry it's taking so long to get back," Alysanne murmured, the guilt seeping through her being.

"Hmm? No, that's not why I said it, Aly. I just..."

Helaena paused, lips pursed for a moment before continuing.

"I know you don't like to talk about them, but the connection between rider and mount runs deep, and I don't feel right without her, and I know she misses me too. That's what I was trying to convey."

Alysanne nodded in understanding, though she didn't truly understand. She feared dragons and had never claimed one, nor did she want to. But she supposed it was quite a deep bond; her aunt Rhaenyra had once told her that Syrax could feel her emotions, and they could feel when one another was in pain.

She'd thought she'd been slightly exaggerating, but maybe she hadn't been, as Helaena held a similar depth of connection with Dreamfyre.

"Look girls, we're approaching Kings Gate," they heard Alicent call over to them.

Both of them leapt from their seats, rushing over to the window beside Alicent, seeing the city coming into view in the near distance.

Alysanne felt her chest warm, anticipation building up at the thought of arriving home.

"We shall reach the Red Keep within the hour," Alicent informed them, giving them a warm smile when she noticed the excitement on their faces.

Informing them of this had proven to be a mistake, as the girls took turns inquiring how close they were to both the Queen and her handmaiden, resulting in annoyance from the adults in the carriage.

"We shall be there momentarily," Alicent reassured them for the umpteenth time, feeling a headache working its way through her skull.

Alysanne felt she could burst with excitement, it had been two whole months since she had last been here, had last seen the Red Keep and everything she loved within it.

She opened her mouth to ask how far along they were, but promptly shut it when she saw Alicent rubbing circles onto her temples, clearly in the throes of a headache.

She hadn't had to ask either way, as she saw they were approaching the gates of the Red Keep, finally at their destination.

Helaena reveled at her excitement, letting out a small giggle as she pulled her along to the window of the carriage, Alysanne craning her neck to see as much as she could into the courtyard.

A tug at their arms forced them back into their seats. Alicent's handmaiden, Talya, was looking at them reproachingly.

"Princess, it is dangerous to lean out of a moving carriage. Surely you know this."