The dragon to be // House of dragons

8

Raina found herself gazing into the dark corner of her room, contemplating the daunting task laid before her. The Whispers beckoned her to embark on a journey, going from house to house to recruit people. She couldn't help but wonder who would take a 10-year-old girl seriously.

"How am I supposed to recruit people?" Raina questioned with a furrowed brow. "They won't listen to me."

"You know what must be done, child. You know what to say," The Whispers replied. "Do as you did when you first encountered the Targaryen Prince." Raina was well aware they were referring to Daemon. However, she couldn't simply divulge the truth about her brothers being bastards

"But how? I can't reveal what I told Damon!" Raina protested, feeling disheartened and frustrated. The task seemed impossible.

"Child, men only need to hear what they desire," they reassured her.

"And what is it that they desire?" Raina inquired.

"Go, child, your grandfather will be leaving soon," Reina huffed, standing up and making her way towards the door. Her grandfather was about to embark on a year-long journey, visiting houses. Reina had persistently begged to accompany him, but now that her wish had been granted, she felt a tinge of regret. She didn't know what to do or say.

Walking down the hallway, she finally found her grandfather. He greeted her with a smile and held her hand as they set off on their journey. Reina was determined to figure it out. She had always found a way to overcome challenges and obtain what she desired, as well as what The Whispers desired.

And so, that's exactly what she did. Traveling alongside her grandfather from one house to another, she followed The Whispers' advice. She spoke to the soldiers, expecting their initial reaction to be the same. "Why should I listen to a young girl like you? You're barely 10 years old. Women aren't meant to lead. You're just a girl." She had heard it all before.

In the end, through her skillful manipulation of words, Raina managed to sway each and every one of them. She had convinced them to believe in her promises and divulged valuable secrets, not about her own family, but secrets that held significance. However, that wasn't the only strategy she employed, as directed by The Whispers. She also resorted to threats, warning them that she would unleash dragon fire upon anyone who dared betray her. With a stern gaze reminiscent of the queen, she exhaled a breath of smoke through her nose and mouth, leaving everyone astonished.

As the journey neared its conclusion and they began to return to Driftmark, Raina noticed that each house had someone bold enough to wear the same blue and red ring she did. This brought a glimmer of hope to her heart, anticipating that more would join their cause.

Remarkably, Raina had managed to accomplish all of this without raising any suspicions. Her grandfather remained unaware, as did the inhabitants of the various houses they visited, as well as the maids and servants. Nobody knew, except for the individuals she had confided in—those who had agreed to stand with her.

"How did you like it, my sweet?" Her grandfather asked, gently placing his hand on top of her head. She turned her head to look up at him, a wide smile spreading across her face.

"I loved it, Papa," Reina replied, beaming. "I learned so many things." It wasn't a lie. When she wasn't fulfilling the tasks assigned by The Whispers, she would sit, listen, and observe. She absorbed everything—the whispers, the secrets of each house. Her young mind blossomed with newfound knowledge and she began to see how she could leverage this information to her advantage. The Whispers praised her for it.

"I'm glad you had a wonderful time, but I must ask," her grandfather said, smiling mischievously. "What were you doing hanging around all those knights?" His playful tone caused her face to flush bright red as she snapped her head forward.