Heir of the Dragon

A Tumultuous Flight

Rhaenys stared them down intently. Jessica knew it would take one word. Just one Dracarys and they would be done for.

Aemond had shifted Jessica behind him, hand on his sword, ready to attack if need be.

Rhaenys and Jessica shared a look. And without a shadow of a doubt Jessica knew she was the sole reason Rhaenys had not unleashed a wall of fire.

Suddenly a loud roar ripped from the pits down below and the ground shook. There was only one dragon that could make that sound.

Jessica's beloved Starfyre.

Jessica needed to get down into the pits and get her dragon into the air. Otherwise, the city would be reduced to little more than ash.

Another roar and a shake of the Earth. Jessica closed her eyes and took a step back.

Aemond didn't notice.

Jessica took another step, and another step, until she had walked past Helaena, Otto and Ser Criston.

Alicent had Aegon behind her. Alicent hadn't noticed her. Jessica pulled up the back of her dress. The fabric that had flowed down her back could be converted into a hood. Jessica covered her hair so that she could disappear into the crowd below.

She had almost gotten away with it.

Aegon caught her out of the corner of his eye, and he caught her in his arms. He pinned Jessica to his chest. The King, protecting his Princess. "Jess...walk back to Aemond."

Jessica looked down to the gaping hole. "I have to get down to her Aeg...she'll destroy the whole city if I do nothing."

"Are you mad?!" Aegon looked at her wide-eyed. "No Jessica! That is suicide sending you down deep into the pits alone."

Jessica narrowed her eyes. "I've navigated those pits for years. I will not leave Starfyre down there in such state."

Aegon gave her a shake. "I WON'T LOSE YOU!"

Jessica took a breath, pushing her temper down. Jessica gritted her teeth. "Then make it an order, Aegon."

Aegon stared back at her, lips parted. "Don't make me do this...not to you...please Jess..."

"You don't want to rule a city of ash and bone."

"I don't want to light your funeral pyre!" Aegon closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers.

Jessica had stiffened in Aegon's grasp, pulling back.

Aegon did not let her get far, squeezing her arms. "Go back to Aemond. Back to his safety. The dragon masters will handle Starfyre. Please...My Love."

Jessica had no choice, Alicent now was watching them, and Criston Cole was turning to her. She didn't want to do this.

Jessica took a breath and pulled back from Aegon. Gods she didn't want to do this. Not to Aegon. Not to him.

She glared at him. "Devil you call me you seem to be enjoying, the fruits of my labor that came to me to young. When you stole my virtue I'm glad it seemed to serve you that I was born a daughter and not a son."

Alicent whipped her head to the pair. "Aegon...you didn't...."

Aegon reached up and gently cupped her cheek. "You don't mean that. I know you dont."

Jessica's breathing hitched. "Aeg - don't."

"I love you." His lips brushed hers.

Tears were threatening to spill over, as she turned away from him.

Jessica saw the hurt flash across his face. She turned on her heels just as Aemond had frantically reached the pair.

The steely blue color of her dress helped her blend in with the crowd. The back of the dress, when pulled up, converted into a hood. Not only did it conceal the Targaryen silver hair, it concealed the tears freely flowing down her cheeks. As She made her way toward the entrance, Jessica heard Aemond call for her, he had pratically jumped down the steps after her. She deftly made her decent down.

Half of the torches had already been extinguished by Meleys' entrance. Jessica would have to navigate to Starfyre almost blind.

She knew the coves and nests each dragon made. By feel, Jessica made her way to her dragon.

Starfyre was still unsettled when Jessica reached her cove. Thrashing, unleashing balls of fire in every direction.

Jessica took a step foward. Starfyre roared at her, the fires showing.

"I know my girl, I know. Meleys startled you. Let's get you in the air. See if that calms you."

She patted her dragon until she felt the reigns. With a grunt, she hoisted herself up.

Starfyre whipped and shook, but Jessica held firm to her faithful dragon.

Jessica secured herself in as best her could, and gave the command to go.

If Jessica was oriented right, there should be a exit shaft, in the next cove over. The only problem, that cove held Vermithor.

There was only one rule to the dragon pits. You left Vermithor well enough alone. Jessica had dared a peek once at the mighty dragon. Though she was caught, and promptly diverted away.

Jessica took a breath, and gave Starfyre the command foward.

Slowly Starfyre got her bearings, making it out of her own cover and to the left.

The first little stretch was going alright. Jessica and Starfyre had entered the largest cove in the dragon pit.

Jessica could hear Vermithor snoring peacefully away.

She spotted the exit shaft at the far end of the cove. Jessica did her best to keep Starfyre along the edge. Slowly, halting Starfyre when she slipped onto Vermithor's tail.

The dragon woke with a mighty roar. Vermithor pulled his tail back and smacked the pair with it. The push sent Starfyre into the wall. Rocks came down, one onto Jessica right above her right eye. There was a burn of pain and she felt the blood begin to trail down.

Starfyre retaliated, snapping at Vermithor. Jessica shouted for Starfyre to calm and pushed foward. Jessica didn't think Vermithor could maneuver through the exit shaft.

Jessica tried not to look back at the angry male dragon, focusing on Starfyre's climb. She almost made it into the clear, when Vermithor bit down on Starfyre tail.

Starfyre freaked, bashing back and forth trying to shake Vermithor off. Jessica being bashed the rest of the way up the shaft.

Vermithor only let go when he could no longer fit through. And shakily Starfyre was in the air.

Starfyre, however, was in pain and was angry because of that pain. Jessica did what she could to get Starfyre in the direction of Dragonstone.

Starfyre arched up, quick dives down, splashed the water, back up.

It was a never ending cycle. Jessica  herself was bloody and broken. She thought she could hear another dragon, she couldn't be sure.

Dragonstone had just come into view when Starfyre took another dive. Jessica had poorly secured herself in, and the chain gave way. One last thrash from Starfyre, and Jessica's world became black, plunging to the sea below.